Ahead of the Pune Municipal Corporation elections, senior Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar faction leader and former Pune mayor Prashant Jagtap joined the Congress on Friday, citing differences over his party’s move to align with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.
Jagtap, who served as the city president of the NCP (SP), had expressed strong reservations about any alliance with parties perceived to be supporting the BJP in the civic elections. Following reports that the Sharad Pawar-led faction was exploring a tie-up with Ajit Pawar’s NCP for the Pune civic polls, Jagtap decided to part ways with the party.
He was formally welcomed into the Congress by Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal and senior leader and MLA Vijay Wadettiwar, among others.
Explaining his decision, Jagtap said he could not be part of any political arrangement that indirectly supports the BJP. He had earlier stated that if such an alliance were finalised, he would step aside and join a party committed to safeguarding the Constitution and progressive values. “My political journey has always been driven by ideology, not positions,” he said.
Jagtap also revealed that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had personally called him and offered him a place in the party. Thanking Thackeray and leader Sachin Ahir for reaching out, Jagtap said he appreciated their understanding of his concerns but had decided to take what he felt was the right step for his political future.
Announcing his resignation from the NCP (SP), Jagtap expressed gratitude to the party leadership for the opportunities given to him over the years. “I entered social and political life 27 years ago not for any post, but to strengthen the progressive movement. That remains my only goal even today,” he said, adding that his political and social work for progressive ideals would continue.
