NCP loses clout in Pawar’s backyard

Managing only 16 per cent of vote share in Maharashtra, the party failed to open its account in regions except western Maharashtra, its old bastion.

But even here, it witnessed a drop in its support base. Supriya Sule, Pawar’s daughter and sitting Baramati MP who had won the seat by 3.36 lakh votes last time, managed to win the seat this time by just over 69,719 votes. The victory margin slimmed even more in Madha, which Pawar had won last time, with party candidate Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil winning by just over 25,000 votes.

In another NCP stronghold of Kolhapur, party candidate Dhananjay Mahadik won by 33,259 votes. Satara was the only saving grace for the NCP, with Maratha face and sitting MP Udayanraje Bhosale retaining his seat with a margin of over 3.6 lakh votes.

Party insiders said that besides unrest against the UPA, the party’s prospects also took a hit following its constant flip-flops on Narendra Modi and allegations of corruption against it leaders.

Party’s national spokesperson Nawab Malik, however, felt it was unrest against price hike and inflation among other things that hit the UPA constituents hard.

The party had witnessed highest dissension during the campaign. Party insiders are now worried about more defections after the rout.

Interestingly, three NCP legislators – Sanjay (Kaka) Patil, Kapil Patil and Dr Heena Gavit – had defected from the party after being denied a ticket and joined the BJP, which fielded them as candidates from Sangli, Bhiwandi and Nandurbar  respectively. All of them won.