In another setback for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), its heavyweight leader from Konkan region and former Maharashtra minister Bhaskar Jadhav announced on Monday that he is all set to join the Shiv Sena on 13 September 2019.

Jadhav, who started his political career with the Sena but later switched over to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, held a meeting on Monday with his supporters at his hometown Guhagar in Ratnagiri district where he made the announcement.

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He's among many others

Jhadav's decision comes after several senior leaders from the NCP and Congress recently joined the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena in the state, where the Assembly polls are due next month.

Jadhav told reporters in Ratnagiri that he decided to join Shiv Sena only after discussing the future course of action with his supporters. “I had a meeting with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray a couple of weeks back and he made an offer to me to join the party,” he said.

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Interested in contesting Guhagar seat

On being asked whether he would contest from Guhagar Assembly seat again in the upcoming state polls, Jadhav said that while he is keen on it, the final decision would be taken by the Sena leadership.

“I am interested in contesting the seat if asked. I think I will wait for the official announcement of the Sena list, but I am joining the Shiv Sena for sure,” he said.

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Jadhav joined the NCP in mid-2000 after which he was elected as a member of the legislative council representing Konkan Local Bodies constituency. In 2009 assembly elections, NCP fielded him as a candidate from Guhagar constituency where he won by 12000 votes defeating the then Leader of Opposition Ramdas Kadam, and a strong BJP rebel, 4th time sitting MLA Dr Vinay Natu. Later, he went on to become a minister in the Congress-NCP coalition government in Maharashtra. 

Last month, NCP MLA Avadhut Tatkare, the nephew of party MP Sunil Tatkare, also announced his decision to join the Sena. He will be inducted into the Sena on Monday evening at Thackeray’s residence ‘Matoshree’ in suburban Bandra.

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(With PTI inputs)