In a massive blow to Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party-NCP faction following a poor performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections, four prominent leaders from Maharashtra’s Pimpri Chinchwad have resigned. They are expected to join the faction led by Sharad Pawar later this week.
Ajit Gavhane, the chief of the NCP’s Pimpri-Chinchwad unit, is among those who have stepped down. Alongside him, Pimpri Chinchwad Students’ Wing chief Yash Sane, and former corporators Rahul Bhosale and Pankaj Bhalekar, have also tendered their resignations.
The departures come amid speculations that some leaders within Ajit Pawar’s camp are considering a return to Sharad Pawar’s fold. Sharad Pawar recently stated that while he would not accept those aiming to “weaken” the party, he would welcome leaders who could strengthen the organisation and maintain its image.
“Those who wanted to weaken the party would not be taken in. But those leaders who would help strengthen the organization and not hurt the image of the party would be taken in,” asserted Sharad Pawar.
The Pawar family experienced a political split in 2023 when Ajit Pawar rebelled against his uncle, NCP founder Sharad Pawar. Ajit Pawar joined the Mahayuti Government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and was appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister. In contrast, Sharad Pawar remained in the Opposition camp.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Pawar’s faction, part of the BJP-led NDA, managed to secure only one seat – Raigad, while Sharad Pawar’s party won eight seats.
