Mumbai, July 31: The exodus of political leaders from the Opposition parties to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues in poll bound Maharashtra. On Wednesday, four MLAs from the Opposition and several senior leaders joined BJP. Sandeep Naik, Vaibhav Pichad and Shivendra Bhosale- all three NCP MLAs, as well as Congress legislator Kalidas Kolambkar, formally joined the BJP in an event held in Mumbai. Sachin Ahir, NCP Mumbai President, Joins Shiv Sena Ahead of Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2019.

The leaders joining the party comes ahead of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s pre-poll outreach effort, the Mahajanadesh Yatra. Apart from the NCP MLAs, senior politician Madhukar Pichad, considered close to NCP chief Sharad Pawar, also joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“We are glad that a senior leader of the caliber of Madhukar Pichad, a six-term legislator such as Kolambkar, a descendent of Maratha king Shivaji, Shivendra Raje Bhosale and youth leader such as Sanjiv Naik, whose family has clout across Navi Mumbai and an aggressive woman’s leader like Chitra Wagh, have joined ranks with the BJP,’’ CM Devendra Fadnavis was quoted as saying after Pichad's entry into the BJP.

Chitra Wagh, NCP’s former women wing head, is also part of the BJP now. Pune’s Commissioner of Police and former IPS officer, Sahebrao Patil, was inducted into the BJP as well. The powerful Naik family of Navi Mumbai, who exercise considerable influence in the area, are also in talks with the BJP, said reports. The NCP has been the biggest loser due to the defections, as they have seen as many as five of their MLAs join the BJP.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 31, 2019 04:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).