Defections soar as netas seek tickets in open season

MUMBAI: A few days after the alliance between the Shiv Sena and the BJP collapsed and the Congress and the NCP snapped ties, the number of defections in preparation for the October 15 assembly election stands at a record high.

The most defections were from the NCP to the BJP or the Shiv Sena.

A senior BJP politician said that in 24 hours a record number of 50 leading politicians changed parties to secure a ticket.

Environment and cultural affairs minister Sanjay Deotale, a Warora representative for four consecutive terms, will be a BJP candidate now as the Congress gave his sister-in-law, Asawari, the ticket.

Minister of state for urban development Uday Samant and minister of state Sanjay Sawkare, both of the NCP, joined the Shiv Sena and the BJP, respectively. Samant will contest from Ratnagiri, Sawkare from Bhusaval. Shiv Sena old-timer Anant Tare joined the BJP. He will fight from Thane.

A week ago, Rajan Teli, a trusted aide of industries minister Narayan Rane, joined the NCP. On Friday, when he was denied nomination, he quit the NCP for the BJP and will contest from Sawantwadi.

Prakash Shendge, a trusted aide of Gopinath Munde, quit the party after he was denied nomination and joined the NCP.

Ajit Ghorpade of Sangli quit the NCP and will be a BJP candidate from Tasgaon-Kawathe Mahankal.

Former mayor and Shubha Raul left the Shiv Sena for the MNS. Women's activist Bharti Lavekar quit the NCP and will contest on a BJP ticket.

Former Shiv Sena MP Bhausaheb Wakchaure, who lost the Lok Sabha polls on a Congress ticket, will contest the assembly polls as a BJP candidate from Shrirampur. Legislators Vijakumar Gavit, Babanrao Pachpute, Kisan Kathore and former MoS Sunil Deshmukh will all contest on a BJP ticket.

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