The President of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sharad Pawar, is soon to suffer a huge set back yet again as the senior party leader and former Minister Ganesh Naik, is all set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections scheduled for later this year. The Maharashtra assembly elections are likely to be held in September-October. Maharashtra BJP chief spokesperson Madhav Bhandari has also confirmed the induction. Ganesh Naik will join BJP on September 11, in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, as per sources.

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Trouble rises for Sharad Pawar

Bhandari informed that several other leaders from the opposition parties are also slated to join the ruling party. He added that BJP is the party where the leaders can visualize their future. "Not only Ganesh Naik but several other leaders are in touch with us. They will be joining the BJP in the near future. Everyone knows that BJP is the party where every politician can see his future, so they are switching over to the BJP," Bhandari said to ANI.

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Naik, a former Cabinet Minister in the Maharashtra government was speculated to join the BJP ever since his son, Sandeep Naik, joined the party in July this year. According to sources, Naik will be switching to BJP along with 50 cooperators of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation. At least 20 opposition leaders so far have left other parties to join BJP and Shivsena this year.

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Other senior leaders left NCP

Earlier, in a huge blow to Sharad Pawar, Avadhut Tatkare, MLA of the NCP had a meeting with Uddhav Thackeray, the President of Shiv Sena. Avadhut Tatkare who represents the Shrivardhan assembly seat in the Raigad district of Maharashtra has been rumoured to join the Shiv Sena. The party is an ally of the ruling party BJP in the state and the centre. Tatkare's uncle and NCP MP Sunil Tatkare is also rumoured to be joining the Shiv Sena, although he had refuted the rumours when questioned. Sachin Ahir, one of the senior leaders of NCP joined Shiv Sena in July. Ahir stated that he wanted to fulfil the late Bal Thackeray's dream. He commented on how he would like to work with Uddhav Thackeray and his son, Aaditya Thackeray, to further develop the state.

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