20 leaders join BJP before PCMC elections in Maharashtra. (ANI)
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Digital Desk, New Delhi. Ahead of the upcoming Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections in Maharashtra, the BJP on Saturday gave a big political blow to the rival parties by inducting about 20 former councilors and some office-bearers of the city into the BJP. The party has also included 12 leaders from its grand alliance partner Ajit Pawar-led NCP into the BJP.
A function held in Mumbai was led by BJP MLA from Bhosari Assembly constituency in Pune district Mahesh Landge and MLA from Chinchwad Assembly constituency Shankar Jagtap. Despite the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, the ceremony is being seen as an important step for the BJP ahead of the municipal elections.
The large-scale defection of senior leaders is expected to strengthen the BJP's organizational base in the industrial city of Pune district.
Prominent leaders of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP include former PCMC standing committee chairperson Usha Waghere, former standing committee chief Prashant Shitole, former deputy mayor Prabhakar Waghere, former mayor Raju Misal, former opposition leaders Vinod Nade, Sameer Masulkar and former standing committee chairman Navnath Jagtap also joined the party. BJP also got support from leaders of other parties.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjog Waghere, Amit Gawde, Meenaltai Yadav and Ravi Landge joined the party. Pimpri-Chinchwad Congress unit president Kailash Kadam's brother and former Congress councilor Sadhguru Kadam also joined the BJP.
(With inputs from news agency ANI)