Pune. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has suffered a major setback. About two dozen officials from Pune-based Pimpri-Chinchwad joined Sharad Pawar-led NCP on Wednesday. In a small ceremony, Sharad Pawar welcomed these officials into the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) in the presence of other party leaders. This includes 20 former municipal councilors, including several women.

These leaders took revenge

Sharad Pawar gave his blessings to them by giving them the party flag at his residence. Prominent people who switched sides include former NCP city president Ajit Gavhane, working president Rahul Bhosale, student wing chief Yash Sane, Bhosari assembly seat chief Pankaj Bhalekar, along with about 20 former municipal councillors and other unit heads. They have submitted their resignations to NCP state president Sunil Tatkare.

This shocking development has come ahead of Sharad Pawar's rally in Pimpri-Chinchwad on July 20. NCP leaders from other parts of Pune district are also likely to join Sharad Pawar's camp. Assembly elections are due in the state soon.

Leaders are angry for not getting tickets 

Due to this, leaders are now slowly changing sides. A leader from Pune said that some officials like Gavhane were angry at not getting a NCP ticket in the Lok Sabha elections. They had also lost hope of getting a ticket in the upcoming assembly elections. Therefore, they went to NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).