In a big blow to Ajit Pawar after poll drubbing, four of the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) top leaders from Pimpri-Chinchwad quit the Ajit Pawar-led NCP camp.

They are set to join the NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar on July 20, sources told The Indian Express.

“I have quit the NCP… I have submitted my resignation to my party president,” Ajit Gavahane, NCP’s Pimpri-Chinchwad unit chief also told IE.

Asked about the reason for his resignation from the NCP, Gavahane said he would hold a press conference on Wednesday and announce the reason behind it.

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Asked whether he was heading to the NCP led by Sharad Pawar, Gavahane refused to comment. “You will know which party I am joining… I won’t reveal anything today,” he said.

However, leaders close to Gavahane said other leaders too would be joining the NCP led by Sharad Pawar, IE reported.

Along with Gavahane, NCP Pimpri-Chinchwad Students’ Wing chief Yash Sane, former corporators Rahul Bhosale and Pankaj Bhalekar have also resigned from the party.

Sharad Pawar said last month those who wanted to “weaken” his party would not be taken in, but he would accept leaders who would not “hurt” the image of the party.

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The Pawar family-led NCP suffered a vertical split after a coup orchestrated by Ajit Pawar against his uncle and NCP founder Sharad Pawar in 2023. While Sharad Pawar remained in the Opposition camp, Ajit Pawar joined the Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and was rewarded with the post of his deputy.

Ajit Pawar’s party contested the Lok Sabha elections as part of the BJP-led NDA but could win just one seat – Raigad – while his uncle’s party bagged eight.