Rahul Narwekar from Shiv Sena joins NCP

Agitated by controversies and inundated by sabotage within his party against him, Shiv Sena’s spokesperson Rahul Narwekar has finally severed ties with Shiv Sena and joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Post joining the NCP, the Chief of the party Sharad Pawar immediately said that Narwekar would be NCP’s nominee from Mawal in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Narwekar, who has been the chief spokesperson for the Shiv Sena since 2010, spoke to the media channels, “I was a victim of internal politics [in the Sena], I was not comfortable. At all levels in the organisation, there was sabotage against me.” Concisely, Narwekar’s decision to quit his party could be seen as a major setback for the Shiv Sena, especially when the Lok Sabha elections are just a few weeks away now. On the other, NCP Leader Praful Patel would indeed be happy to have the likes of Narwekar in his ranks. Narwekar’s experience would come in handy for NCP in the Lok Sabha elections, especially when NCP Chief Sharad Pawar would be contesting for the Rajya Sabha elections.

Sharad Pawar had also held several meetings with Rahul Narwekar, before he joined the NCP. Pawar, after his meetings with Narwekar told the media, “We have a list of senior Sena leaders who are keen to join NCP. If I disclose the list, Uddhav will have to spend sleepless nights.” According to reports, more than a dozen members from the Shiv Sena have left the party and joined Congress, NCP or MNS. Narwekar, who was a candidature for the Legislative Council elections said, “I was asked to file the nomination papers despite the fact that the Sena did not have an adequate number of votes. I was expecting that the party will organized the required votes. Ultimately, I withdrew my nomination when I found that defeat was in store owing to lack of adequate support.” Narwekar here spoke about how his own party and their members denied support to him at the very last moment and neither did they come to his rescue.

According to sources, Narwekar had served Shiv Sena for almost a decade and a half. On being deserted by his party, Narwekar added that he had no option but quit Shiv Sena, with a heavy heart. Talking about his withdrawal, Rahul Narwekar exhorted that the Shiv Sena party was already informed his withdrawal from the party. Is sources are to be trusted, Rahul Narwekar had also informed Uddhav Thakkrey about the state of affairs within the party, before finally quitting Shiv Sena. Now that Rahul Narwekar is to start afresh with NCP this time, Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel would be ensuring that Narwekar’s political potential, spells success for the NCP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.