The NCP Wednesday downplayed the exit of its former MP Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil, who crossed over to the BJP, saying the development would not affect its poll prospects in much-discussed Madha seat, currently represented by his father and party stalwart Vijaysinh Mohite Patil.
Terming the development "unfortunate", NCP state president Jayant Patil disclosed that the party had decided to renominate Vijaysinh from Madha constituency.
Vijaysinh was apparently unwilling to contest from the seat, once represented by NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
In an embarrassment for the NCP ahead of the next month's Lok Sabha polls, Ranjitsinh switched over to the BJP with the "consent" of his father, who is said to be sidelined by the party brass.
Vijaysinh, a former deputy chief minister, has not opened his cards on his next political move.
"Sharad Pawar had finalised Vijaysinh's candidature from Madha constituency for the next month's elections. But he had suggested the name of another person as his replacement, which was opposed by local NCP workers in the constituency," Patil told reporters.
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After assessing the ground situation, the party leadership re-nominated Vijaysinh, but his son switched over to the BJP. "This is unfortunate," he added.
Patil said the party had made Vijaysinh a minister and later deputy chief minister in the past.
Meanwhile, Pawar held parleys with NCP leaders from Madha in Mumbai, following Ranjitsinh's move to join the ruling party.
"The development won't have any bearing on the NCP's poll prospects in Madha. We will give a strong candidate in Madha and win the seat again. We will burst Chief Minister's (Devendra Fadnavis') bubble of illusion (on winning this seat)," Patil added.
It is not yet known whether Ranjitsinh would be the BJP's nominee from Madha seat.
He also said that the final picture on seat-sharing between the Congress and the NCP would be clear by March 23.
Differences between the two parties in regard to four seats and delays in finalisation of the seats to be allotted to the smaller parties has been reportedly holding back the formal announcement of the poll agreement.
The NCP has so far declared candidates in 18 constituencies, including Hatkanangale in Kolhapur district, which it has allotted to Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana of Raju Shetti.
The Congress has so far announced candidates in 12 constituencies.
Polling for all the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra will be held in four phases next month.