The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra's Pimpri Chinchwad has faced four key leaders resigning, which is a setback for the party led by Ajit Pawar following a disappointing performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
They are expected to join the party led by Sharad Pawar later this week.
Among those who have handed in their resignations to Ajit Pawar, Ajit Gavhane, the chief of NCP's Pimpri-Chinchwad unit, is included. The other individuals are Yash Sane, chief of Pimpri Chinchwad Students' Wing, and former corporators Rahul Bhosale and Pankaj Bhalekar.
These resignations coincide with speculation that some leaders aligned with Ajit Pawar are open to reuniting with the Sharad Pawar faction.
Last month, Sharad Pawar stated that individuals seeking to undermine his party would not be welcomed, but those who would not damage the party's reputation would be accepted.
"Those who wanted to weaken the party would not be taken in. But those leaders who would help strengthen the organisation and not hurt the image of the party would be taken in," he had said.
The Pawar family was divided into two political factions following a revolt led by Ajit Pawar against his uncle and NCP founder Sharad Pawar in 2023. Despite Sharad Pawar remaining in the Opposition, Ajit Pawar aligned with the Mahayuti government under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and was subsequently appointed as his deputy.
Ajit Pawar's party participated in the Lok Sabha elections as part of the BJP-led NDA but only managed to secure one seat - Raigad. In contrast, his uncle's party secured eight seats.
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