Maharashtra polls: Sharad Pawar faction expects entry of more BJP and NCP netas

MUMBAI: The Sharad Pawar-led NCP expects that before the announcement of the assembly election, many BJP politicians, as well as those who had left the NCP along with Ajit Pawar, will rejoin the NCP (SP).
At a brief event on Tuesday, senior BJP politician and former legislator Bapusaheb Pathare joined the NCP (SP) in the presence of Sharad Pawar. Pathare had joined the BJP in 2019.Pathare belongs to Pune's Vadgaon Sheri, where he is expected to take on Sunil Tingre, a trusted aide of Ajit Pawar, in the ensuing assembly election. Pathare, along with his son Surendra, a former councillor, joined the NCP.
A fresh setback is on the cards for the BJP following the decision of Dilip Khopade, former president of Jalgaon Zilla Parishad, to join the NCP on Sept 21 in the presence of Sharad Pawar. Khopade is expected to take on Girish Mahajan from Jamner in the ensuing assembly elections.
In the recent past, more than a dozen senior politicians joined the NCP (SP). On March 30, three-term legislator Amar Kale joined the NCP and successfully contested the Lok Sabha election from Wardha. He had defeated the BJP's sitting MP Ramdas Tadas. Former minister Suresh Navale quit the Shiv Sena and campaigned for NCP (SP) nominee Bajrang Sonawane from Beed. On June 25, former union minister Suryakanta Patil resigned from the BJP and joined the NCP. On July 11, former BJP legislator Sudhakar Bhalerao quit the BJP and joined the NCP, while on July 22, former minister Madhav Kinhalkar quit the BJP and joined the NCP.
Former legislative council chairman Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar has asked Ajit Pawar to control former Madha MP Ranjeet Nimbalkar, failing which he will join the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. Senior BJP politician Harshavardhan Patil, who is awaiting election to the legislative council, is likely to join the NCP before the assembly elections. Patil was a cabinet member for a prolonged period; however, a few years ago, he quit the Congress and joined the BJP, with the hope that he would get a nomination either in the Rajya Sabha or the legislative council. A frustrated Patil had a series of meetings with Sharad Pawar.
In another development, a letter signed by ‘Gabbar' targeting NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar for "forcing" his grandnephew Yugendra Pawar on Baramati voters has gone viral. It is the second such letter in a fortnight on social media platforms.
During the Lok Sabha election, when both factions of the NCP fought fierce campaigns, letters targeting both Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar went viral.
Earlier, a letter targeted Ajit Pawar but the latest one written by ‘Gabbar' criticised Sharad Pawar and Baramati MP Supriya Sule, alleging that during the LS campaign, the NCP (SCP) played the emotional card but after winning, the Baramati MP does not answer calls.