The Economic Times

Title : EVOLVING MAHARASHTRA POLITICS - Cong, NCP Leaders Join Sena, BJP in Big
Numbers
Author : ROHIT CHANDAVARKAR
Location :
MUMBAI
Article Date : 08/14/2014

Maharashtra, which has traditionally been a bastion of the Congress party and has voted the
CongressNCP coalition to power in three consecutive assembly elections since 1999, is witnessing a
new trend.
Several leaders from these two parties are leaving to join either the Shiv Sena or the BJP, an indication
that the ruling partnership may be in trouble ahead of the assembly polls.
The Congress party's debacle in the LS polls and dispute with the NCP over seats have created an
atmosphere of uncertainty for party members, who seem unsure about their prospects in the state polls
due by October. Added to this, the saffron alliance appears aggressive after its electoral victory .
Some left the ruling alliance even before the LS polls. In Sangli, which is in the heart of the sugar belt of
south Maharashtra, Sanjay Patil quit NCP to contest the polls on a BJP ticket and won. The Congress
party had never lost this seat since Independence. Congressmen say this has embold ened other leaders
to follow Patil.
Ram Pandagale, a former Mumbai MLA of the Congress who was known as a staunch loyalist of the
Gandhi family , has quit. He crossed over to the Shiv Sena on Wednesday. Babanrao Pachpute, a senior
NCP leader and a two-time minister in the state, is on the verge of quitting the party.
Deepak Kesarkar, an NCP MLA from Sawantwadi in the Konkan region, joined the Shiv Sena last
week.


Page 1 of 2
8/14/2014 http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31815&articlexml=EVOLVING-MA...


Page 2 of 2
8/14/2014 http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31815&articlexml=EVOLVING-MA...