Congress neta, who helped Rohit Pawar win Karjat Jamkhed in 2019, rejoins BJP

Nashik: Ahliyanagar Congress unit vice-president Kailas Shewale rejoined BJP on Sunday night in the presence of deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis at the latter's residence in Nagpur.Shewale and his team had worked for NCP (SCP) politician Rohit Pawar in the Karjat Jamkhed constituency in the 2019 assembly polls. Then, Rohit Pawar defeated BJP's Ram Shinde. These politicians are pitted against each other in that key constituency."Welcoming me back into the BJP fold, Fadnavis requested me to work for Ram Shinde's victory in Karjat Jamkhed, much like I had for Rohit Pawar's win in 2019. I have promised that my entire team would go all out to win the seat for BJP," Shewale told TOI. The BJP nominee for Karjat Jamkhed was also present at Fadnavis's residence when Shewale rejoined the party. Shewale first joined BJP in 1994, when Eknath Khadse and the late Gopinath Munde were at the helm of the party in the state. In 2015, he left the party to join the Congress."We have been disillusioned with Rohit Pawar since he became the MLA of the constituency. He has not nurtured the constituency, and the voters are unhappy with him," alleged Shewale. BJP sources said Shewale's influence is in different villages in the Karjat area of the constituency. His joining BJP would adversely affect Rohit Pawar. Shewale was the former zilla parishad member of Ahliyanagar.In August this year, Rohit Pawar's other close aide, Madhukar Ralebhat, quit the NCP (SCP) and joined the BJP. He was the party's in-charge in the Karjat Jamkhed constituency and had also played a major role in Rohit's victory. Although Rohit Pawar could not be contacted, his supporters rubbished Shewale's allegation that the MLA has not developed the constituency."After he won the polls in 2019, Rohit Pawar changed the face of the constituency in all sectors. He organised a rally at Shewale's area on Sunday, and all the supporters of Shewale were present. Shewale's switch will not affect Rohit's chances of retaining the seat," said his supporters.
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