Pune: Former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporator Moreshwar Bhondve, who was vying for the Chinchwad assembly seat, has switched allegiances to the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).

Bhondve, a two-time corporator and city working president of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, has decided to leave his party following dissatisfaction with leadership decisions regarding the Chinchwad seat.

In 2014, Bhondve had contested the Chinchwad assembly election as an independent candidate and was determined to run again in the upcoming election.

Along with four other former corporators, Bhondve had met Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to request that the NCP secure the Chinchwad seat from the BJP as part of the Mahayuti.

When their request was not acknowledged, the group also approached NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) president Sharad Pawar in hopes of securing support.

The former corporators had previously declared that they would join whichever party in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance—comprising the NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and Congress—was granted the Chinchwad seat.

With Bhondve’s entry into the Shiv Sena (UBT), it is now being speculated that the Chinchwad seat might be assigned to that party within the MVA arrangement. Simultaneously, it is rumored that the Pimpri and Bhosari constituencies might be given to the NCP (SP).

Bhondve also hinted that other former NCP corporators will soon follow his lead, announcing their entry into the Shiv Sena (UBT) at a gathering in Chinchwad.

Bhondve stated, "I was interested in contesting the Chinchwad seat and had requested the NCP to secure it as part of the Mahayuti alliance. However, there was no response from the leadership. After discussing the matter with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, I decided to join the Shiv Sena (UBT)."