Manikrao Kokate, former Shiv Sena MLA from Sinnar, joined the Nationalist Congress Party at a function at the NCP office here on Wednesday.
The NCP immediately announced his candidature from Sinnar seat in Nashik district for the October 21 Maharashtra assembly polls.
Some BJP workers from Paithan in Aurangabad district also joined the NCP in the presence of state unit president Jayant Patil and party leader Ajit Pawar at the function.