Loyal supporter Nana Kate may leave Ajit Pawar in Pimpri-Chinchwad after party city chief’s crossover to Sharad Pawar camp
Pimpri: The NCP (AP) is likely to receive yet another big setback in the twin towns, which is known as the stronghold of Ajit Pawar. He has now started getting jolts.
There are discussions in political circles that following the party City Unit President Ajit Gavhane’s possible defection to the NCP (SP), Ajit Pawar’s loyal lieutenant Nana Kate may join the rival faction. There is an upheaval in the NCP (AP) after the Lok Sabha poll results.
Nan Kate was the undivided party’s candidate in the Chinchwad state bypoll last year and has been insisting that he again wants to contest.
When Gavhane met Sharad Pawar, along with local party leaders, the latter announced that they were welcome in his fold. This makes Nana Kate’s exit from the Ajit Pawar faction more likely. When asked if he would contest on the trumpeter symbol, he gave a confusing reply saying that he would fight on ‘the symbol’.
Nana Kate resolved to contest the poll
NCP (AP) leader Nana Kate said, “I will contest the State election. We have a strong presence in the Chinchwad Assembly segment. I met Ajit Pawar for the purpose. We are preparing for the poll. Ajit Pawar has given me a free hand to work in my way. He promised to solve any future issue. We will decide on which symbol to contest in the future.”
Will Kate join NCP (SP)?
When asked if he would join the NCP (SP), Kate merely smiled and said that he would answer this question later. Thus, adding to the confusion. When asked whether he would contest if offered the party ticket by Sharad Pawar, he replied that he did not take any decision. He said, “There is no guarantee that the assembly seat would go to the BJP as the party has several aspirants. There are two candidates from the Jagtap family. This is likely to leave the seat for the NCP (AP). So, it is not proper to commit at this moment.”
Family feud may help Nana Kate
The criterion that the seat goes to the incumbent MLA in Maha Yuti will help sitting legislator Ashwini Jagtap. She expressed her wish to contest the election being the real heir to the late Laxman Jagtap. On the other hand, Laxman Jagtap’s brother Shankar Jagtap is also an aspirant. Nana Kate had lost the last Assembly bypoll.