Maharashtra: Newly joined NCP candidate Rahul Narvekar to contest from Maval

Sulking Shiv Sena spokesman Rahul Narvekar, who recently withdrew his candidature from Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, on Tuesday joined NCP and will contest the Lok Sabha polls on the party's ticket from the Maval constituency.

Narvekar said he left the Sena due to internal politics. "I am not happy in breaking the 'Shiv Bandhan' (a special saffron thread tied on the wrists of Sainiks). But I feel that I should have tied it after proper thought," Narvekar told reporters.

According to him, he had no choice but to quit the Sena because he was falling prey to internal politics. Narvekar said he withdrew his candidature in the Legislative Council elections after being told by the party leadership to avoid "horse-trading".

"When I was told to file nomination, I knew that Sena did not have the requisite numbers in the Legislative Assembly to get two candidates elected. I was the party candidate, but was operating like an Independent, meeting other party leaders which should have been done by the Sena leadership. I realised that my own party is against me," Narvekar said.

He said he was not a dummy candidate like the Shiv Sena had pitted him on earlier occasions. "Given the kind of nominations I had to file earlier... I think this is the safest election for me... NCP's strength in the constituency will be known on May 16, the day of the results," he added.

Narvekar also said that he had spoken about his ordeal in the party to the Sena leadership and did not wish to comment in public.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, in whose presence he joined the NCP, said Narvekar was selected because of his educational qualifications and his public work in Uran area of the constituency.

"Wamanrao Jagtap, who quit the NCP to join PWP (Peasants and Workers Party) and will contest from Maval is from Pimpri-Chinchwad and even Sena candidate Shrirang Barne is from Pimpri. Narvekar is active in Uran and will help the NCP to attract the educated class," he said.

Narvekar, the son-in-law of senior NCP leader Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, was the spokesman of Youth Wing of Shiv Sena, headed by party president Uddhav Thackeray's son Aditya.