Maharashtra Polls: NCP chief spokesperson Umesh Patil meets Sharad Pawar, resigns from the post

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 23 (ANI): In a big blow to Ajit Pawar-led NCP just ahead of the Maharashtra polls, the party’s chief spokesperson Umesh Patil has resigned from the post.

The big development happened on Tuesday when Patil met NCP-SCP Chief Sharad Pawar at YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai.

Umesh Patil submitted his resignation to National Congress Party (NCP) President Sunil Tatkare.

Meanwhile, with Maha Vikas Aghadi constituents huddled in negotiations to iron out differences over some assembly seats, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole expressed hope that the seat-sharing arrangement would be finalized.

He said party leader Balasaheb Thorat gave him detailed information about his meeting with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.

“A way can be found is what we feel. We are going for the seat-sharing meeting. We hope that this is the final meeting for seat sharing,” Patole said.

Thorat said the list for the assembly polls will be released soon.

“The list will be released soon. Even we have a time limit,” Thorat said.

Both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) — comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress — have intensified their preparations for the elections but are yet to announce their seat-sharing formulas.

Earlier on October 22, former Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Rajkumar Badole joined the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Badole joined the party in the presence of NCP chief and state Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar at an event in Mumbai.

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.