Pune Congress rocked: 40-year loyalist Mukhtar Shaikh, son join Ajit Pawar faction

• Senior Congress leader Mukhtar Shaikh and his son Vikar Shaikh joined the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction in Pune.
• Shaikh, a Congress Vice President and two-time corporator, was loyal to the party for 40 years and a prominent minority face.
• Their departure comes just before the crucial municipal corporation elections in Pune.
• Mukhtar Shaikh alleged Congress leadership neglected minority community and loyal workers, citing injustice.
• This move is seen as a major blow to Congress, potentially impacting its vote bank in central Pune.

Why It Matters: Long-time Congress leader Mukhtar Shaikh and son defect to Ajit Pawar's NCP, a major pre-election blow.