Shiv Sena or BJP? Pimpri NCP MLA Anna Bansode says ‘none’ day after CM visits his office

While heading for Nigdi from Thergaon, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stopped for a while at the office of the NCP MLA in Chinchwad area.

On Friday, the Chief Minister was in Pimpri-Chinchwad to attend the ‘Government at your doorstep’ initiative in Thergaon and to inaugurate the statue of Mahatma Basveshwar in Nigdi.

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A day after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited his office in Chinchwad, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Anna Bansode denied that he is headed towards Shiv Sena or the BJP.

“No, I am not leaving NCP and joining Shiv Sena or the BJP. There is no truth in these speculations,” Bansode told The Indian Express Saturday.

On Friday, the Chief Minister was in Pimpri-Chinchwad to attend the ‘Government at your doorstep’ initiative in Thergaon and to inaugurate the statue of Mahatma Basveshwar in Nigdi. While heading for Nigdi from Thergaon, the Chief Minister stopped for a while at the office of the NCP MLA in Chinchwad area. Speaking to reporters after meeting Bansode, the Chief Minister said, “There is no politics involved in our meeting. It was just a courtesy call.”

Bansode said he had received a call from the Chief Minister’s Office that he would be visiting him while on a visit to Pimpri-Chinchwad. Asked whether the Chief Minister had given him an offer to join the party, Bansode said, “No, there was no such discussion during the short meeting.”

Shiv Sena MP Shrirang Barne too denied that the party is trying to rope in Bansode. “No, we are not pursuing the NCP MLA and have not made him any offer to join our party,” Barne said.

For sometime now, speculations have been doing the rounds that Bansode would join either the BJP or the Shiv Sena. NCP sources said though Bansode is close to party leader Ajit Pawar, there is widespread resentment against him in the party.

“Many corporators are upset with Bansode’s style of functioning. They don’t want him to be fielded again from the Pimpri reserved constituency. Hardly any development work has been carried out in the constituency during the last four years,” an NCP leader said.

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Bansode was elected from Pimpri in the 2017 election. When Ajit Pawar had taken oath along with Devendra Fadnavis in November 2019, Bansode was among the few MLAs who were with him at that time.

Since then, Bansode has been known to be close to Pawar. The two assembly constituencies of Bhosari and Chinchwad which flank the Pimpri seat have seen rapid development. However, NCP leaders said the Pimpri seat has been limping when it comes to development which has come as a rude shock to the voters.

NCP Pimpri-Chinchwad president Ajit Gavahane said, “There is no need to give a political angle to the meeting between the CM and the MLA. The CM said he would visit Bansode’s office as it was on the way to Nigdi and kept his word.”

Gavahane also denied that some NCP leaders were upset with Bansode for not pushing the development of Pimpri constituency. “I don’t think there is any resentment against Bansode. If there is, then I will take up the matter with our leader Ajit Pawar,” he said.

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BJP Pimpri-Chinchwad president Mahesh Landge said, “I was present when the Chief Minister met Bansode. But I am not aware what transpired between the two.” Asked whether the BJP has made Bansode an offer to join the party, Landge said, “I don’t think we have made any offer to him. Such decisions are taken at a higher level.”

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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