CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: In a major setback to the NCP Ajit Pawar faction, four top leaders of the party from Maharashtra’s Pimpri Chinchwad unit resigned on Tuesday. This comes as Ajit Pawar’s wife and Rajya Sabha member Sunetra Pawar visited the Modibaug area in Pune, where NCP founder Sharad Pawar has a house.
Ajit Gavhane, the chief of NCP’s Pimpri-Chinchwad unit, sent his resignation letter to Ajit Pawar on Tuesday. He later confirmed that he quit the NCP. “I have quit the NCP… I have submitted my resignation to my party president,” Ajit Gavahane, NCP’s Pimpri-Chinchwad unit chief, told The Indian Express.
Others who left the party include Pimpri Chinchwad Students’ Wing chief Yash Sane and former corporators Rahul Bhosale and Pankaj Bhalekar. Speculations are rife that all of them will join Sharad Pawar faction soon.
Gavahane added that several NCP office-bearers, former corporators and leaders who support him are also planning to quit the NCP. He, however, refused to comment on the reasons for leaving Ajit Pawar faction.
The Ajit Pawar faction received a major setback during the Lok Sabha elections where it managed to win just one seat – Raigad – while the Sharad Pawar faction bagged eight.
This came after Rajya Sabha member and Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday visited the Modibaug area in Pune, where NCP founder Sharad Pawar has a house. Though both parties did not confirm whether they met, this triggered rumours that she may have met Sharad Pawar.