50% of Lok Sabha candidates of both NCP factions are turncoats

MUMBAI: BJP functionary Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil leads the list of defectors from Maharashtra who have secured nomination for the LS polls. While Dhairyasheel is among those who quit BJP and there have been defections from Shiv Sena as well, the two groups of NCP have depended on turncoats for 50% of their seats - of 10 seats allotted to Sharad Pawar-led faction, five have gone to defectors, while Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which is contesting four, has given two to those who switched camps.

Once closely associated with Sharad Pawar, the influential Mohite-Patil family from Madha and Solapur led by former deputy CM Vijaysingh Mohite-Patil became associated with BJP in the run-up to 2019 LS polls. However, they later felt the family was being sidelined, legislator Ranjeet Singh Mohite-Patil was not included in the cabinet, and none was being considered for a LS nomination from Madha. So Dhairyasheel, nephew of Vijaysingh Mohite-Patil, knocked at the doors of Sharad Pawar and expressed his desire to join NCP (SP). As the catch was going to be a big one, Pawar immediately accepted the proposal and declared Dhairyasheel's nomination from Madha.

Parner legislator Nilesh Lanke was closely associated with Ajit Pawar, but a week ago, he decided to quit his faction of NCP and join NCP (SP). He has been nominated from Ahmednagar against Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil's son and sitting MP Sujay Vikhe Patil.