Setback for NCP after another party leader joins BJP

MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) MP Udayanraje Bhosale joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday.

Bhosale’s defection is a big blow to the NCP as it comes on the back of mass defections from the party to BJP, including four prominent former ministers and four sitting legislators.

Bhosale, a three-time MP, was inducted into BJP on Saturday, in Delhi, in the presence of the party president Amit Shah.

“We all are inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji and have been trying to follow him since Jana Sangh (Akhil Bhartiya Jana Sangh) days. We are happy that his [Shivaji’s] descendant will now be working with us,” Shah said of Bhosale at the function.

NCP hit back at Bhosale’s induction by alleging BJP was luring royals by promising to allow the sale of lands in erstwhile princely states.

Pawar also inducted former BJP legislator Vijay Ghodmare (from Nagpur district) into NCP on Saturday. “Bhosale joined BJP only to be able to sell historical properties, which is not permissible by law. Even if BJP has assured him that he will be able to sell those properties, NCP will not let this happen. We will do everything to protect Shivaji’s legacy,” said NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik.

CONG CLEARS 55 NAMES

In a meeting chaired by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday, the party’s central election committee approved the names of 55 candidates shortlisted by the screening panel for the upcoming state elections. However, the party is yet to officially declare its first list of candidates.