Sharad Pawar Suffers Setback in Kolhapur as Key Leader Samarjit Ghatge Returns to BJP

• Samarjit Ghatge, a prominent leader from Kolhapur, is set to rejoin the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after a brief stint with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
• Ghatge had joined the NCP after being denied a BJP ticket for the assembly elections, but his return to BJP is now imminent.
• Minister Chandrakant Patil confirmed that only formalities remain for Ghatge's entry, and his faction will contest Zilla Parishad elections under the BJP symbol.
• The move is seen as a significant blow to Sharad Pawar's NCP, which has been losing ground in Western Maharashtra.
• Ghatge, a staunch opponent of Hasan Mushrif, attended BJP meetings in Kolhapur and held discussions with Chandrakant Patil prior to his official re-entry.

Why It Matters: Samarjit Ghatge's return to BJP from NCP deals a major blow to Sharad Pawar's party in Kolhapur.