Four Maharashtra opposition MLAs quit; may join BJP

Updated At : 11:14 PM Jul 30, 2019 IST

Image only for representational purposes

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, July 30

Four MLAs from the opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party on Tuesday submitted their resignation from the Maharashtra Assembly amidst talk that they are likely to join the BJP.

Three NCP legislators, Vaibhav Pichad, Shivendra Raje Bhosale and Sandeep Naik in addition to Kalidas Kolambkar of the Congress resigned from their seats in the Maharashtra legislature today. BJP leaders said all four would join their party at a function being organized in South Mumbai.

“In addition to them hundreds of their supporters will join the BJP,” said a BJP leader.

Vaibhav Pichad told reporters that he would join the BJP since Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had promised to carry out development works in his constituency, Akola. It is noteworthy, his father Madhukar Pichad was a close associate of NCP chief Sharad Pawar and has even headed the party at one point.

Sandeep Naik is the son of Ganesh Naik, who has a stronghold over Navi Mumbai and is known to switch parties and win with ease. BJP sources say Ganesh would also join the saffron party along with his son and his support base is likely to follow suit.

“The NCP will lose control of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation as the entire party in the township will join the BJP tomorrow,” a party leader said.

Shivendra Raje Bhosale is considered a major catch because he is a descendent of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. His cousin Udayan Raje Bhosale is the NCP MLA from Satara.

Congress MLA from Wadala, Kalidas Kolambkar, had quit the Shiv Sena and joined the Congress in 2004. Kolambkar too is expected to join the BJP.

All four MLAs submitted their resignations to speaker Haribhau Bagade on Tuesday.

Four Maharashtra opposition MLAs quit; may join BJP

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