MUMBAI: The NCP is heading for a major crisis as many legislators have knocked on the doors of NCP (SP) showing their keenness to join the Sharad Pawar outfit before the assembly election. It is learnt that Pawar will admit only 10 to 12 of them.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar confirmed that 22 NCP legislators had approached NCP (SP). “They are keen to join the Sharad Pawar camp, but so far no decision has been taken on them,” he said.
He said the BJP might want the NCP to contest the assembly polls separately to cut into opposition votes.He said the saffron party was trying to reduce Ajit Pawar’s political importance.
The BJP might offer Ajit Pawar only 20 of the 288 assembly seats and the latter could then walk out of the ruling alliance, said Rohit.
Seven legislators from Ajit Pawar’s NCP met NCP (SP) state unit president Jayant Patil in the council hall. “Trusted aides of Ajit Pawar met Jayant Patil. Certainly, there was political discussion. The possibility of them joining the Sharad Pawar camp in the near future is not ruled out,” an NCP (SP) politician said.
Another politician from the Sharad Pawar camp said that after the success of the NCP (SP) in the Lok Sabha election, an exodus from the NCP to NCP (SP) has been on the cards. Many are keen to return before the assembly polls. “With an unprecedented strike rate in the LS polls, they expect that if they secure a nomination they are sure to win,” the politician said.
The politician said that even if many legislators approached the NCP (SP), Sharad Pawar would not admit all of them and in all probability not more than 10 to 12 would be be accepted. “If we admit all of them, it will send a wrong signal to the rank and file, and there will be great injustice to our own party workers, who stood by Sharad Pawar in the hour of crisis. Each and every case will be examined by Pawar himself and a decision taken,” the politician said.
An Ajit Pawar camp activist said all was not well in the party. “There is complete uncertainty over re-election of sitting legislators if they contest on the symbol of NCP,” the activist said.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar confirmed that 22 NCP legislators had approached NCP (SP). “They are keen to join the Sharad Pawar camp, but so far no decision has been taken on them,” he said.
He said the BJP might want the NCP to contest the assembly polls separately to cut into opposition votes.He said the saffron party was trying to reduce Ajit Pawar’s political importance.
The BJP might offer Ajit Pawar only 20 of the 288 assembly seats and the latter could then walk out of the ruling alliance, said Rohit.
Seven legislators from Ajit Pawar’s NCP met NCP (SP) state unit president Jayant Patil in the council hall. “Trusted aides of Ajit Pawar met Jayant Patil. Certainly, there was political discussion. The possibility of them joining the Sharad Pawar camp in the near future is not ruled out,” an NCP (SP) politician said.
Another politician from the Sharad Pawar camp said that after the success of the NCP (SP) in the Lok Sabha election, an exodus from the NCP to NCP (SP) has been on the cards. Many are keen to return before the assembly polls. “With an unprecedented strike rate in the LS polls, they expect that if they secure a nomination they are sure to win,” the politician said.
The politician said that even if many legislators approached the NCP (SP), Sharad Pawar would not admit all of them and in all probability not more than 10 to 12 would be be accepted. “If we admit all of them, it will send a wrong signal to the rank and file, and there will be great injustice to our own party workers, who stood by Sharad Pawar in the hour of crisis. Each and every case will be examined by Pawar himself and a decision taken,” the politician said.
An Ajit Pawar camp activist said all was not well in the party. “There is complete uncertainty over re-election of sitting legislators if they contest on the symbol of NCP,” the activist said.
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