5 months ago
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Days aft quitting the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), erstwhile Pune Mayor Prashant Jagtap joined the Congress connected Friday, amid speculation that the 2 NCP factions whitethorn travel unneurotic up of the Pune Municipal Corporation elections.
“The 135-year-old Congress has stood similar the Himalayas contempt facing galore storms. I americium grateful for this opportunity, and I volition prosecute this arsenic a progressive worker, carrying the thoughts of Gandhi, Nehru and Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar,” Mr. Jagtap said, adding that his combat was against communalism and the authorities of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Mr. Jagtap joined the Congress successful the beingness of Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal and elder person Vijay Wadettiwar astatine Tilak Bhavan successful Mumbai. He joined the enactment up of the civic elections scheduled for January 15.
He blamed the BJP for rising transgression and worsening postulation conditions successful Pune, alleging that the authorities had failed to instrumentality effectual measures to code these issues.
As governmental parties successful the State prosecute successful confederation calculations, Mr. Jagtap’s exit from the NCP(SP) came amid speculation of a imaginable knowing betwixt the 2 NCP factions. A long-time loyalist of Sharad Pawar, helium was among the fewer enactment leaders to discontinue connected ideological grounds. Earlier, helium had said his governmental reasoning did not align with that of Ajit Pawar, whose faction is portion of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.
NCP(SP) moving president Supriya Sule had held discussions with him successful an effort to dissuade him from leaving. He besides received a telephone from Shiv Sena(UBT) main Uddhav Thackeray earlier taking his decision.
“Congress fights for societal welfare. The BJP represents a Manuvadi mindset,” Mr. Jagtap said, describing his determination arsenic an ideological commitment.
Congress Legislature Party person Vijay Wadettiwar said Mr. Jagtap’s determination reflected his conviction. “He has taken a steadfast basal against communal forces and chosen Congress without compromising connected his values,” helium said.
Mr. Jagtap said helium would proceed to enactment for the Congress irrespective of whether the enactment is successful power.
