Maharashtra Elections Heat Up: Key NCP Leaders Eye Return To Shard Pawar’s Fold; Check The List Inside

As the Maharashtra assembly elections draw near, more members of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are expressing their desire to rejoin the Sharad Pawar-led faction. Three notable leaders from western Maharashtra-Madha MLA Baban Shinde, former Daund MLA Ramesh Thorat, and senior NCP leader Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar-are expected to join the NCP (Sharad Pawar) soon.

Baban Shinde, who has served six terms as the MLA from the Madha assembly seat in Solapur, has announced his retirement from electoral politics. After meeting with Sharad Pawar on Friday, he stated, "I met Pawar Saheb to request him to give candidature to my son Ranjit." He added, "I don't know what decision he is going to take, but if he chooses anyone else, Ranjit will contest as an independent candidate." This indicates both Shinde and his son are looking to distance themselves from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

Former MLA Ramesh Thorat is also expected to switch to the NCP (SP). Thorat, who sided with Ajit Pawar during last July's split in the NCP, met Sharad Pawar on Saturday and expressed his wish to contest in the upcoming elections under his party. He shared with Saam TV, "I have been meeting people and asking them what to do. They all want me to contest the assembly polls from the NCP (SP). If I don't get candidature from the NCP (SP), they would prefer me to contest independently." Thorat previously served as an MLA for the Daund constituency from 2009 to 2014, winning as an independent candidate. He is likely to face off against two-term BJP MLA Rahul Kul, a close ally of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar, a senior NCP leader, also hinted at joining Sharad Pawar's party during a gathering in Phaltan on Saturday. He stated, "I hurt Pawar Saheb and left with Ajit Pawar. I felt bad but made that decision." He continued, "Whatever decision I take, I will take it while considering all of you. If my workers are not feeling secure despite being part of the government, then I will have to think otherwise." This is the second occasion this month that Nimbalkar has suggested he may join the NCP (SP). He has expressed dissatisfaction with the working style of Ranjeetsinh Naik Nimbalkar, the BJP's sitting MP from the Madha Lok Sabha constituency.

In addition, BJP leader and former minister Harshvardhan Patil is set to join the NCP (SP) on Monday. He is expected to be the party's candidate for the Indapur assembly constituency in Pune, part of the Baramati Lok Sabha seat. A seasoned politician, Patil has long been a rival of Ajit Pawar, who split from Sharad Pawar's party last year to align with the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena coalition.

The shifts within the NCP signal a potential realignment of political power as the elections approach, reflecting growing discontent among party members and a desire to return to Sharad Pawar's leadership.