Kolhapur BJP leader Ghatge set to join Sharad Pawar’s NCP

BJP leader Samarjeetsingh Ghatge, who is related to the royal family of Kolhapur, on Friday decided to join the NCP led by Sharad Pawar. Ghatge made the announcement after consulting his party leaders at a meeting in Kolhapur on Friday.

Ghatge, who is considered close to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, is likely to be fielded from Kagal assembly seat by NCP (SP) which has already held discussions with him. NCP minister Hasan Mushrif represents Kagal seat. Ghatge said he has apprised Fadnavis about his decision to leave the party. “I don’t want to comment about my discussions with him,” he told his supporters.

Ghatge is likely to join NCP (SP) on September 3. Party spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said the party will soon announce the decision regarding his entry.

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Ghatge had contested the 2019 elections as an independent candidate. “I was denied a ticket in 2019… When I was preparing for 2024 elections, they are now saying that party which won the seat will get to contest the seat again… Therefore, I have decided to chart my own path,” he said.

In 2019 when he had contested the assembly elections, Ghatge had finished as runner up to Mushrif.