Two weeks ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in Mumbai, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) is facing a mass exodus with majority of its leaders opting to join Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP, with practically no effort from the NCP (SP) to stop them.
Three days after NCP (SP) Pune city chief Prashant Jagtap quit the party to join Congress, its Mumbai head Rakhee Jadhav Monday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Jadhav is likely to contest from Ward Number 131 (Ghatkopar) in Mumbai, which she had represented from the undivided NCP in 2017.
According to sources, Jadhav was upset after Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) alliance offered only 5 to 10 seats to the party. The NCP (SP) had sought at least 30 seats in the BMC elections.
Before Jadhav, several party leaders from Mumbai, including former corporator Dhananjay Pisal, leader Manish Dubey, former corporator Manisha Rahate and general secretary Ashok Panchal, had already quit to join Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Another party leader Nitin Deshmukh, who was seeking ticket for his wife, met the NCP leaders, but later decided to withdraw from race.
On Monday, the NCP (SP) announced its first list with just seven candidates for Mumbai. The party has decided to contest the election in alliance with Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
“Yes, it is true that people are quitting our party. The leadership has taken certain decisions and those who do not want to follow them are quitting,” said NCP(SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto.
Sources confirmed that the NCP(SP) leadership did not attempt to stop anyone who was joining Ajit Pawar’s NCP. “Everyone (in the leadership) is watching the happenings. If they wanted to stop it, they could have easily decided to fight this election independently, giving an opportunity for workers. No such attempt was made. What does it indicate,” asked a senior NCP(SP) MLA.
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The party appointed Milind Kamble as president in-charge for Mumbai zonal election and Suhail Subhedar as the co-president on vacant post.
From NCP’s side, the leaders were seen welcoming the workers and leaders queuing up at the party office till late Monday night. The party which is contesting the BMC polls independently, released its first list of 37 candidates on Sunday.
Jadhav was appointed as Mumbai chief of the undivided NCP after the arrest of Nawab Malik during the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. She remained with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP after Ajit Pawar’s rebellion and the party’s split. Jadhav contested the Assembly polls against BJP MLA Parag Shah in 2024.
Last week, Jagtap quit the party after it decided to ally with Ajit Pawar’s NCP in the Pune Municipal Corporation polls. He had opposed joining hands with Ajit Pawar, a BJP ally in Maharashtra and at the Centre.
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The BMC elections will be held on January 15, and the results will be declared the next day.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
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