Maharashtra Elections: Harshvardhan Patil Switches Sides, Joins NCP And Eyes Indapur Seat

Days after resigning from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former Maharashtra minister Harshvardhan Patil joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar on Monday. The event took place in Indapur, with Pawar and prominent leaders such as Supriya Sule and Jayant Patil present.

Following his induction, Patil mentioned that he played an "invisible hand" role in helping Sule secure her Baramati Lok Sabha seat. Pawar announced that Patil will be the NCP's candidate for the Indapur seat in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. He encouraged voters to support Patil, saying, "I urge the people to send Harshvardhan Patil to the Vidhan Sabha."

Photo Credit: Harshvardhan Patil X

Pawar shared that Patil expressed a desire to take on challenging tasks that could improve people's lives. "If it is difficult, if it is related to the people, and if it can change people's lives, then we need Harshvardhan for such work," he stated.

Pawar reflected on his own electoral experience, having contested 14 elections, with the people of Indapur supporting him seven times. He stressed the need for experienced individuals like Patil to bring about change in Maharashtra. "The NCP (Sharad Pawar) is doing that job. If we want to bring change in people's lives, then we need experienced and hard-working people like Harshvardhan Patil in the state assembly," he added.

In his speech, Patil expressed pride in Sule's achievements, noting her four terms as an MP, and reiterated his support during her campaigns. He stated, "We had an invisible hand in her Lok Sabha victory."

Patil left the BJP as he aimed to contest the Indapur seat, a district he had previously lost in the 2014 and 2019 elections. However, due to an agreement among alliance partners in Mahayuti, the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar, has decided to contest this seat with Dattatray Bharne, who has previously won from Indapur twice, defeating Patil on both occasions.