Niranjan Davkhare joins saffron brigade
Many people in line to join BJP: CM
MUMBAI: Many people are in line to join the BJP in near future and their names would be revealed soon, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday, as he welcomed former NCP MLC Niranjan Davkhare in the saffron fold.
Davkhare had on Wednesday submitted his resignation as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, quit the NCP, and said he was going to join the BJP. Fadnavis on Thursday welcomed him into the ruling party. Niranjan Davkhare's father, late Vasant Davkhare, was a veteran NCP leader from Thane-Palghar region, and had served as Deputy Chairman of the Council for nearly 18 years.
“Vasant Davkhareji was a wellknown leader and active in politics for many years. Niranjan was in contact with us since several days. He wanted to join a national party and enter the mainstream politics. We too thought he should work with us and hence, he decided to join the BJP,” Fadnavis said.
Niranjan’s name has been forwarded to the BJP's central leadership for the upcoming MLC polls, he said. As the Member of Legislative Council elected from the Konkan Graduates constituency, Niranjan’s term was ending in July and the biennial election for the seat is slated on June 8.
Niranjan Davkhare said though NCP chief Sharad Pawar is a big leader, he "trusts" the development agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thus, joined the BJP. "While I was working in my constituency on matters related to education or development, whenever I took any issue to the chief minister, he was always positive and stood by me," the former NCP leader said.
With Davkhare's resignation, the NCP's strength in the state's Upper House is down to 22 from 23.