Mumbai, India

Four prominent leaders have stepped down from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra's Pimpri Chinchwad, delivering a significant setback to Ajit Pawar's leadership following the party's underperformance in the recent Lok Sabha elections. 

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The leaders are expected to join Sharad Pawar's party later this week.

Ajit Gavhane, the chief of NCP's Pimpri-Chinchwad unit, is among those leaders who have tendered their resignations to Ajit Pawar. 

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The others include Pimpri Chinchwad Students' Wing chief Yash Sane, and former corporators, Rahul Bhosale and Pankaj Bhalekar.

Notably, the resignations come amid a buzz that some leaders in the Ajit Pawar camp are willing to return to the Sharad Pawar fold.

Last month, Sharad Pawar stated that those aiming to undermine his party would not be welcomed, but he would accept leaders who do not tarnish the party's reputation.

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"Those who wanted to weaken the party would not be taken in. But those leaders who would help strengthen it and not tarnish the image of the party would be taken in," he had said.

It may be mentioned here, the Pawar family split into two political parties after a revolt by Ajit Pawar against his uncle and NCP founder Sharad Pawar in 2023. 

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Although 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 deputy.

Ajit Pawar's party contested the Lok Sabha elections as part of the BJP-led NDA but managed to win only one seat, Raigad, whereas his uncle's party secured eight seats.

(With inputs from agencies)