Pune: Former minister and BJP leader Harshvardhan Patil held a closed-door meeting with Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday (August 27), fueling speculation about a potential shift in allegiance.
The meeting took place at the Vasantdada Sugar Institute in Manjari, shortly after an official session concluded. The confidential nature of their discussion has sparked rumors that Patil may be contemplating a move to the NCP (SP), a move that has been the subject of speculation in political circles for several days.
This comes as Patil, who has expressed interest in contesting the upcoming elections from Indapur on a BJP ticket, faces uncertainty over his candidacy due to the Mahayuti (Grand Alliance) rule that favors the party with the sitting MLA.
Present at the Institute's earlier meeting were several prominent leaders, including former Deputy Chief Minister Vijaysinh Mohite Patil, NCP leaders Rajesh Tope and Vivek Kolhe, as well as BJP’s Harshvardhan Patil and MLA Baban Shinde from Madha.
The political buzz following the meeting has intensified, particularly as Patil's potential switch to the NCP could alter the dynamics in the Indapur constituency.
BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule responded to the speculation by stating, "Those who are determined to leave cannot be stopped. Harshvardhan Patil should be patient."
He also referred to Samarjeet Singh Ghatge’s move towards Sharad Pawar's NCP to contest in the Kagal assembly constituency, suggesting that such shifts are becoming more common as election preparations heat up.
In Indapur, the current MLA, Dattatreya Bharne, is aligned with the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, and it is expected that he will be re-nominated by the Mahayuti alliance.
This possibility has led Harshvardhan Patil to explore his options, including a potential switch to the NCP, as he navigates the complex political landscape ahead of the elections.
Bawankule emphasized the urgency of seat allocation discussions within the Mahayuti, noting that decisions need to be finalized soon, with a focus on winning strategies.