Setback for Ajit Pawar as OBC leader Ishwar Balbudhe joins NCP Sharad Pawar camp

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 20 (ANI): In a major setback for the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction party's OBC leader, Ishwar Balbudhe joined the Sharad Pawar-led opposition camp in Mumbai on Friday.
Ishwar Balbudhe joined the party in the presence of Maharashtra NCP President Jayant Patil and NCP-SCP leader Anil Deshmukh.
Earlier on September 10, National Congress Party (SCP) MLA Jayant Patil claimed that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is now controlled by his consultants 'to a great extent'.
"Ajit Pawar is not the same anymore, I don't know if his nature has changed or not but he has hired consultants for what to say in his speeches in front of the media, they have been given the responsibility by spending a lot of money. He (Ajit Pawar) speaks in the manner he is advised," he said.
Last year in July, Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar led a vertical split in his party and joined hands with the National Democratic Alliance and took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Maharashtra legislative assembly elections will be held in 288 constituencies. The Election Commission of India has yet to announce the dates for the election.
The upcoming Maharashtra election will see a contest between the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, comprising the UBT Shiv Sena, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress, and the Maha Yuti Alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction).
The recent Lok Sabha Election has given a boost to the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) winning nine seats, the Congress 13, and the NCP-SP winning eight, bringing the total tally of the alliance to 30.
On the other hand, the Mahayuti alliance suffered a major blow, with the BJP winning only nine seats, Shiv Sena winning seven and the NCP folding with one seat, bringing the total tally of the alliance to 17. (ANI)