Rebel NCP legislator Deepak Kesarkar quits party, to join Shiv Sena

Nationalist Congress Party MLA Deepak Kesarkar from Sawantwadi (Konkan region) constituency on Sunday quit the party, declaring that he would be soon joining the Shiv Sena. 

Kesarkar had raised a banner of revolt against the nomination of Nilesh Rane, son of Narayan Rane, ever since the Congress had declared his candidature for a Lok Sabha seat recently. He and his supporters had made it clear that they would not campaign for Nilesh Rane and instead, ensure his defeat. Kesarkar’s rebellion posed a significant threat to Nilesh’s candidature, making him lose the election by 1.5 lakh votes.

Speaking to journalists, Kesarkar said, “I will continue my fight against Congress leader Narayan Rane. The fight is not against a person but against the high-handedness and autocratic style of functioning. In the next eight days I will put in my resignation and join the Shiv Sena.”

In the forthcoming Assembly elections, the Congress-NCP will continue their alliance of 15 years. Hence Kesarkar, who is known for opposing Rane, has quit the NCP to avoid campaigning for Rane.

Sawantwadi MLA Deepak Kesarkar had resigned from the NCP on April 14. He had asked NCP activists to ensure the defeat of Congress nominee Nilesh Rane and vote in favour of the Shiv Sena in the Lok Sabha polls.