With Pawar support,Joshi dares BJP

Joshi is at pains to explain that it was humiliation and neglect for the past 14 years that led him to leave the BJP. A four-time corporator,three-time MLA and MP,Joshi felt sidelined and he took the plunge when Pawar asked him whether he would like to have the NCP seat from Kothrud. “My friendly ties with Pawar made it easy for me to take up the NCP offer. I have many supporters accrued over the past 50 years of my political career. The fact that I have left the BJP won’t stand against my chances in the polls as the people know me as Anna Joshi and not merely a BJP leader.”

However,BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari does not hesitate to call him a traitor. “The party had given him several positions — deputy mayor and deputy speaker of the assembly — and made him an active member of the core group. He has no right to blame the party. He should have ideally turned a mentor and encouraged youth leaders to contest the election rather than entering the fray himself.”

Joshi still considers the Pune pattern — a BJP-Sena-NCP alliance in the Pune Municipal Corporation — as having laid the grounds for an easy association with the NCP. It was reason enough for many senior Congress leaders to be unhappy with his entry into the alliance. One of them said he was unlikely to find favour with the grassroots Congressmen. “He will always remain an outsider for the party.”

Similarly,there are many in the NCP itself who are upset with the lateral entry of Joshi. That not less than a dozen NCP leaders were eyeing Kothrud will not help matters though Ajit Pawar laid down the line on Tuesday that all should campaign for Joshi unreservedly. City NCP president Jaideo Gaikwad said,“He is a senior politician and well-versed with the election process,having been MLA thrice.”

Joshi has his hands full as he faces Shiv Sena candidate Chandrakant Mokate,another BJP rebel candidate Ujjwal Keskar and expelled Congress member Deepak Mankar. Hindu Mahasabha president Himani Sawarkar could split the right wing votes while Kiisshor Shinde could play spoiler.

But Joshi is not worried. “Sharad Pawar,Chhagan Bhujbal and even Chief Minister Ashok Chavan will campaign for me.”

On his part,Mokate is categoric that loyalty to one’s party of origin will be a major factor. “I have been with the Sena for the past 26 years and have never left it even once. I am a true party supporter and my work will speak in these elections.”