Kolhapur MP joins Cong,boost to party in region

A Congress minister from the region described the development as a “major setback” to the NCP in Western Maharashtra. Mandlik told The Indian Express that his decision would affect the NCP in the civic polls. “I will work to strengthen the Congress in Western Maharashtra,” he said.

Mandlik,77,a former minister of state,who had represented the Kagal constituency in the Assembly was an associate of NCP president and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. He was elected from the Kolhapur Lok Sabha constituency for successive terms in 1998,1999,2004 and 2009.

The outspoken Mandlik,a former wrestler,fell out with Pawar and the break in relations was complete when the NCP dropped Mandlik to nominate Yuvaraj Sambhajiraje,the scion of the Kolhapur royal family,in the Lok Sabha seat.

Mandlik,however,contested the 2009 election as an Independent and had managed to trounce his rival by around 45,000 votes with the support of farmer leader Raju Shetty of the Swabhimani Paksha.

Shetty had also won the election from the neighboring Ichalkaranji constituency,defeating incumbent MP Nivedita Mane of the NCP. Mandlik later declared support to the Congress-led UPA government.

While the NCP accounts for three of the 10 MLAs from the district,the Congress has just two.

The Shiv Sena has three legislators in the district and the BJP one,while former minister Vinay Kore is the lone MLA of his Jana Surajya Shakti party.