Mumbai, May 15: The Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) faced a setback on Thursday when former MP Anand Paranjpe rejoined the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde. This marks a significant ‘homecoming’ for Paranjpe after a 14-year hiatus.
He was welcomed into the party in the presence of Shiv Sena parliamentary leader Srikant Shinde, along with state ministers Dadaji Bhuse and Uday Samant.
Paranjpe, who began his political career with Shiv Sena, returned after spending over a decade with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which was initially led by Sharad Pawar and later by Ajit Pawar’s faction.
He emphasized that he is joining the party without any expectations of a position, aiming instead to dedicate himself to strengthening the party’s organizational structure.
Paranjpe’s move comes at a delicate time for the ruling Maha Yuti coalition in Maharashtra. As a prominent figure in Thane for the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), his departure is viewed as a blow, especially following recent reports of discontent regarding nominations to the Legislative Council.
By bringing Paranjpe on board, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena has solidified its grip on the Thane-Kalyan belt, an area where Paranjpe holds significant local influence.
He stated, “Even though I was with another party, my DNA has always been with Shiv Sena.” Paranjpe credited his return to the ‘common man’ approach of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
He assured that he would not criticize the NCP, noting that he fulfilled his duties and worked hard to strengthen the party during his time there. Paranjpe reiterated that he is not seeking any position and will work as a dedicated Shiv Sainik, fulfilling the responsibilities assigned to him by Shinde.
Srikant Shinde remarked that the party’s strength is growing daily, highlighting that Shiv Sena has recently appointed over one lakh booth-level officials to prepare for upcoming organizational challenges.
He expressed confidence that Paranjpe’s strength in organizational tasks would prove to be a significant asset for the party.
Paranjpe’s political journey is deeply intertwined with the Shinde family. He first became a Lok Sabha member in 2008, representing Shiv Sena from Thane, and later in 2009 from Kalyan. Notably, his victory in 2009 was largely credited to Eknath Shinde.
At the event, Srikant Shinde noted, “There is a deep and longstanding relationship between the Paranjpe and Shinde families. As the party expands across the state, Anand Paranjpe’s organizational skills will be a major strength for us.”
Political analysts view this ‘homecoming’ as a strategic realignment within the Maha Yuti, especially as the Shinde faction seeks to establish itself as the true flagbearer of the Shiv Sena ideology ahead of the next electoral cycle.
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