Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Deepak Kesarkar on Sunday quit his party and announced he will join the Shiv Sena in August.
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Mr. Kesarkar represents Sawantwadi constituency in the Maharashtra Assembly.
Mr. Kesarkar had rebelled against the party during the Lok Sabha elections and refused to campaign for Nilesh Rane, son of Congress Minister Narayan Rane, instead, he backed the Shiv Sena candidate Vinayak Raut. He had then been served with a show-cause notice.
While addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Mr. Kesarkar took a dig at NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Narayan Rane.
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Mr. Kesarkar said that he is against Mr. Rane’s goondaism in the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg district.
"I have nothing personal against Mr. Rane but his professional conduct is not acceptable to me. Mr. Rane does not allow any politician in the district to function independently," he said
"I even raised this issue with my party chief but because of political compulsion the issue was never addressed," he added.
"I am okay if the Shiv Sena does not give me a ticket to contest. I will be happy serving and campaigning for the party," he said.