NCP infighting may cost Bhujbal dear

The infighting in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) seems to be worsening by the day and may result in electoral losses for dissident Chhagan Bhujbal's son Pankaj who is contesting from Mumbai's Mazgaon seat.

According to senior leaders in the state NCP, there have been reports of NCP cadre working against Pankaj.

The workers, it appears, are angered by Bhujbal's attmepts to split the party before the assembly polls, and his continued defiance of NCP chief Sharad Pawar after the tickets were announced.

"Bhujbal and other backward caste NCP leaders like Madhukar Rao Picchad were angry at being marginalised by the Maratha leadership of Vilasroa Deshmukh, and wanted to join the Congress before the polls," said a senior NCP leader.

"Bhujbal was also angry that the NCP leadership did not defend him in the Telgi fake stamps scam. He felt that a lot of the stories in the media about Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer's involvement in the scam were planted by his rivals within the party," added the leader.

It took a lot of persuading by Sharad Pawar and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to retain Bhujbal, who had already sent feelers to the Congress through AICC general secertary Ahmad Patel.

Bhujbal also declined to attend a joint rally by Pawar and Sonia Gandhi in Vidarbha, claiming he was busy with his campaign.

"Sharad Pawar is extremely upset at this open defiance duing one of the most crucial elections in the state," said the leader.

This unhappiness has, according to NCP leaders percolated to the workers and they are determined to give Pankaj Bhujbal a hard time.

They are said to be actively aiding the opposition Shiv Sena's candidate Bala Nandgaonkar.

The impact of this infighting will likely to be felt in the Vidarbha region as well, since Bhujbal's Mali caste is believed to be influential in the region.

The Congress-NCP combine is already facing a tough time due to rebels.