Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Marathi television actor Dr. Amol Kolhe, who was Shiv Sena’s star campaigner during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday.
While there is no clarity over the role that Dr. Kolhe would take up in the party, NCP leaders said the right call will be taken in the days to come. Besides Dr. Kolhe, four other State leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also joined the NCP.
Dr. Kolhe said that in times of unrest, the national politics and the energy of the youth requires proper guidance and leadership. “Between 2022 and 2025, India is expected to have the largest number of youth. Yet, the nation is currently witnessing unrest. The guidance and leadership that the national politics and our youth require can only be provided by NCP chief Sharad Pawar, and this is my attempt to be of help to him,” he said.
On leaving Shiv Sena for the NCP, Dr. Kolhe said that certain decisions have to be taken according to situations. “Working under the Sena chief and with its workers was nothing short of a pleasure. The direction of national politics is changing, and I thought that if in this process something that comes my way is picked up, I must not hold back,” he said.
NCP leaders stated the decision over Dr. Kolhe’s role in the party will be taken in due course. Asked if he will contest Lok Sabha Elections, an NCP leader said that it has not yet been discussed.
Meanwhile, the NCP said that they were yet to decide on the list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls. “We will have a discussion with Mr. Pawar and take a call,” he said.
Arvind Chavan, a former BJP MLA from Badnapur in Jalna district, BJP leader from Nandurbar Yash Milind Patil, Kishor Patil from BJP’s Kisan Morcha, and Harshal Yashwant Pawar, form BJP’s Doctor Cell were among those who joined the NCP on Friday.
“Accepting the proposal tabled by the BJP back in 2014 was a mistake on my part. They never helped me. I am happy at returning to the NCP,” Mr. Chavan said.
