by Hrishikesh Marale

Pimpri-Chinchwad NCP has landed in a turmoil. As many as 30 of its leaders including its Pimpri-Chinchwad unit Ajit Gavhane have quit the party. 

And where have they gone ? They walked straight into the arms of NCP led by Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar. 

Mr Sharad Pawar was himself present to welcome the 30 former corporators and senior leaders into the party at an event held in Pune city.

Mr Gavhane was feeling uneasy after NCP joined hands with BJP-Mahayuti.

He has been arguing that when NCP was in opposition for five years in PCMC, it had strongly opposed the BJP plans and policies. 

Mr Gavhane said he had raised several corruption issues during the BJP tenure in PCMC from 2017 to 2022.

''Then how can I campaign for BJP which has claimed the Bhosari assembly seat,'' he asked.

Mr Gavhane actually intends to contest the Bhosari seat. If he stayed in NCP, there was little chance of him getting the opportunity to contest the seat as the seat in Mahayuti is with BJP. Mahesh Landge of BJP has twice won the seat.

Mr Gavhane's exit is considered a major blow to NCP led by Ajit Pawar in Pimpri-Chinchwad. This is the third major split in NCP after the exits of bigshots like Laxman Jagtap and Mahesh Landge a few years ago.

Along with Mr Gavhane, among those who left NCP include mayors Hanumant Bhosale and Vaishali Ghodekar, Rahul Bhosale, Vasant Borate, Sangeeta Tamhane,Yash Sane, Geeta Mancharkar, Sameer Masulkar, Chandrakant Walke, Vinaya Tapkir, Sanjay Wable, Sanjay Newale, Vasant Borate, Ghanshyam Khedekar, Vaishali Ubale, Shubhangi Borhade, Ravindra Sonawane, Pankaj Bhalekar, Pravin Bhalekar, Sagar Borate, Nitin Saste, Sharad Bhalekar and Vishal Aher.