BJP leader Laxman Dhobale joins Sharad Pawar's NCP

Mumbai [Maharashtra], October 23 (ANI): Ahead of Maharashtra Assembly Election. Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former minister Laxman Dhobale on Wednesday joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) - Sharad Pawar faction, in the presence of party MP Supriya Sule.
Dhobale, a former guardian minister of Solapur district, was part of the undivided NCP before joining BJP. Dhobale joining the Sharad Pawar faction comes as a jolt for the Mahayuti Alliance.
Earlier NCP, Ajit Pawar faction, chief spokesperson Umesh Patil resigned from the post and met Sharad Pawar at YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai.Umesh Patil submitted his resignation to National Congress Party (NCP) President Sunil Tatkare.
Meanwhile, Maha Vikas Aghadi- comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress- continue to negotiate seat-sharing agreements. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, earlier in the day, assured that there is no difference among the alliance over seat sharing.
"There is no difference of opinion among us. There is no animosity. Everything is going well." Sanjay Raut said.
Exuding confidence over the victory of Maha Vikas Aghadi in the Maharashtra assembly elections, Sanjay Raut said that Shiv Sena (UBT) will secure a century of seats and that the country wants them to win 100 seats.
On the other hand, member of Mahayuti alliance- comprising of BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP- all have released their first list of candidates.
As the polling date draws near, both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) -- comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress -- have intensified their preparations.
The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with counting for all 288 constituencies set for November 23.
In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena won 56 seats, and the Congress secured 44 seats. In 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, while the Shiv Sena won 63 and the Congress 42. (ANI)