Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Legislative Council chairman Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar is likely to clear the air over his rumoured exit from the party in the next couple of days.
“These rumours have been floating around for the past month, but I have … remained silent. Now, I will announce my decision within two days,” the MLC from Phaltan in Satara district said on Wednesday.
While a number of NCP stalwarts have deserted the party for the BJP-Shiv Sena since after the Lok Sabha elections, the suspense over Mr. Naik-Nimbalkar has endured. It is not clear whether the 71-year-old, who belongs to the royal family of Phaltan, plans to enter the BJP or the Sena.
His fellow royals from Satara, former NCP MP Udayanraje Bhosale and former NCP MLA Shivendraraje Bhosale, have already joined the BJP.
Mr. Naik-Nimbalkar said, “In Phaltan, politics has been very different from the rest of the district. It has always had a liberal tradition. My family has never hankered after posts or ministerial portfolios, but has only concerned itself with the uplift and development of Phaltan. So, whatever decision I take will be for the weal of the region,” he said.
The NCP leader was supposed to announce his decision more than a fortnight ago at a meeting of his supporters, but has been prevaricating since then.
Despite expressions of endearment towards NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Mr. Naik-Nimbalkar has remained away from the NCP’s rallies in Satara. He has also targeted Udayanaraje and former Congressman Jaykumar Gore, who both joined the BJP, for failing to bring about development in the district.
A bitter rival of Udayanraje, Mr. Naik-Nimbalkar has said the flamboyant former MP’s ‘style’ of conducting himself did not behove a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji. According to observers, since Udayanraje has joined the BJP, it is expected that Mr. Naik-Nimbalkar will enter the Sena.
“The real reason for Mr. Naik-Nimbalkar wanting to quit the party is because he wants to hold on to his post as chairman of the Legislative Council. It is not that he is particularly disaffected with the NCP, but the fact is that the BJP is now the single largest party in the Council. Hence, the NCP leader would like to end up on the winning side,” said a Mumbai-based political analyst.
