NCP Suffers Major Blow in Ambegaon as Adhalrao Patil's Key Supporter Joins Shinde Sena

• Arun Gire, a staunch supporter of NCP leader Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil, has joined Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena.
• Gire, former vice-president of Pune Zilla Parishad, was keen to contest from Pargaon-Jarkarwadi Zilla Parishad constituency on an NCP ticket.
• His move comes after Vivek Walse Patil, nephew of former minister Dilip Walse Patil, secured the NCP candidature for the same constituency.
• Gire had previously contested against Dilip Walse Patil in 2014 on a Shiv Sena ticket and had also joined NCP with Adhalrao Patil before Lok Sabha elections.
• This defection is seen as a significant setback for Adhalrao Patil and the NCP in Ambegaon ahead of Zilla Parishad elections.

Why It Matters: Arun Gire's defection to Shinde's Shiv Sena deals a major blow to NCP and Adhalrao Patil in Ambegaon.