Former NCP MLA Shivendrasinh Bhosale on Thursday attributed his decision of joining the BJP to "internal politics" in the Sharad Pawar-led party and its leadership's ignorance towards his complaints in this regard.
Bhosale, who joined the BJP on Wednesday, also asked the NCP's leadership to "introspect" as to why he had to arrive at the decision of switching sides.
Bhosale, who was elected from the Satara Assembly segment in western Maharashtra, made the remarks after Pawar hit out at him on Thursday.
Pawar also said Bhosale had confided to him that he would not join the BJP.
Bhosale refuted the claim.
"We followed and defended wholeheartedly the NCP's policies all these years. But the party's internal politics bedevilled me from time to time.
"I had raised the issue with Pawar Saheb and party's state unit chief Jayant Patil. But the same was ignored," Bhosale told reporters here.
More From This Section
"I did not arrive at the decision to leave the party in a day. There is this big background to it and the party leadership must introspect about it," Bhosale added.
Bhosale did not name any leader as he made the comments.
But it is believed he was referring to his cousin and Satara MP Udayanraje Bhosale with whom he is said to be sharing strained rapport.
The former NCP MLA alleged he faced "back-stabbing" in the 2014 Assembly polls too.
"When in the NCP, I followed instructions of leadership, discharged my party duties with responsibility.
"But whenever it came to supporting me, the internal politics was played," Bhosale said.
With a slew of NCP leaders deserting the party, Pawar on Thursday extended his "best wishes" to them and said he has experience in tackling such situations.
He also said Bhosale resigning and embracing the ruling BJP would have no bearing on the NCP's Assembly poll prospects in Satara district.
Pawar exuded confidence that the NCP would retain the assembly seat earlier won by Bhosale.
Assembly polls in the state are expected in October.