NCP (SP) leader Madhukar Ralebhat joins BJP ahead of Maharashtra polls

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 23 : Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) faction leader Madhukar Ralebhat joined Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday.
The joining ceremony was held in the presence of the president of the party's state unit, Chandrashekhar Bawankule and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Speaking on the occasion, Fadnavis said, "I welcome Madhukar Ralebhat to the party. Many other leaders have also joined the party along with him. None of them was born with a silver spoon, all of them are very hardworking and do good work."
"Only a respectable person can understand the pain of a respectable person and we listen to the pain of such people. In Maharashtra, our government takes decisions immediately. Whether it is a water problem or any other problem, we take every decision as soon as possible," Fadnavis said.
On September 20, Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction party's OBC leader, Ishwar Balbudhe joined the Sharad Pawar-led opposition camp in Mumbai.
Balbudhe joined the party in the presence of Maharashtra NCP President Jayant Patil and NCP-SCP leader Anil Deshmukh.
On September 18, former BJP MLA from Vadgaon Sheri constituency Bapusaheb Tukaram Pathare joined the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party at a public joining ceremony held at the Pawar's residence.
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.