Amid the rapidly shifting loyalties among Maharashtra's political leaders, Bajrang Sonawane, who had previously been associated with Ajit Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), made a significant step on Wednesday by joining Sharad Pawar's NCP faction. This comes days after Sharad Pawar, the chief of 'Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar', hinted at discord among Ajit Pawar faction.
Recently, Sharad Pawar stated that numerous leaders within the Ajit Pawar faction are discontented, hinting at a possible shift towards his faction. The veteran leader asserted that several leaders are uncomfortable with the current situation in the party.
About Bajrang Sonwane
Bajrang Sonwane, a resident of Maharashtra's Beed district, is regarded as an ally of Ajit Pawar and Dhananjay Munde after the split in NCP last year. When Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led Grand Alliance government, Sonwane chose to go along with Ajit while he was the president of the NCP from Beed district. In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, Sonawane contested against Pritam Munde from the Beed seat and had given a strong fight in the election. Pritam Munde is the BJP Leader and daughter of Late Gopinath Munde.
At a function held at the NCP SP headquarters in Pune on Wednesday, Bajrang Sonawane and his supporters joined the Sharad Pawar campaign. Sonwane said that he didn't join the party with any expectations and added that he was ready to accept any responsibility that Sharad Pawar would give. He further stated that he would back any nominee from Beed that the party chooses.
"I was always with the NCP; many party workers told me they felt suffocated on the other side; therefore, I came here on behalf of my supporters ...I did not come here with any expectations. Whatever responsibility Pawar Saheb will give me, I will accept it without any hesitation. Whoever is the candidate from Beed, I will support them with full strength. Pawar Saheb had given me a ticket last time from Beed and considered me for the responsibility. I will always remain grateful to him," Sonwane said as quoted by news agency ANI.
Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar, while addressing the party workers during the event, said the party's senior leaders will sit and decide about fielding Bajrang Sonawane.
(With ANI Inputs)