NCP's Babanrao Pachpute set to join BJP

The decks are clear for the entry of former minister and NCP leader Babanrao Pachpute into the BJP. Pachpute is a sitting MLA from Srigonda in Ahmednagar district.

BJP state unit president Devendra Fadanavis told media persons on Monday that Pachpute had cleared the screening and would be inducted in the party soon.

Riding on the Modi wave, the BJP-Shiv Sena swept the Lok Sabha polls with 42 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra. Of the remaining six, NCP won four seats, while Congress could get only two. With increased prospects of the BJP-Sena mega alliance coming to power after the state assembly elections, scheduled for October, Pachpute had indicated last week that he would leave NCP.

Pachpute had not made it clear whether he would be joining BJP or would contest as an independent. He had said that he would talk to his supporters before arriving at a decision.

Speaking to mediapersons at BJP's Mumbai office, Fadanavis said that his party was screening defectors from other parties at three levels. He told that former union minister Suryakanta Patil from NCP and Bhaskarrao Patil-Khatgavkar too would be joining BJP.

When asked about Pachpute, he said, "Pachpute has cleared our screening."