Former BJP minister Dange joins NCP

MUMBAI: Former BJP leader and a minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government during 1995-99, Anna Dange, on Saturday joined the NCP.

NCP president Sharad Pawar would formally welcome Dange into the party at a function at Sangli on October 6, Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil told reporters here.

NCP has been strengthened with the entry of Dange, who is a senior political and social leader, Patil, who also hails from Sangli, Dange's district, said.

The 'dhangar' community, to which Dange belongs, would now put their might behind NCP, he claimed.

Dange, who had floated a political party 'Lokrajya' after his exit from BJP, said he joined NCP becaise Pawar is the only leader who has the vision to develop the state and also because he supported the NCP chief's stance on reservation issue.