Congress, NCP rebels flock to BJP

Mumbai:  Congress and NCP rebels, including sitting MLAs and ministers who joined the BJP ahead of next month’s Assembly elections in Maharashtra, figure in the list of the party candidates in more than a dozen constituencies. These rebels are likely to queer the pitch for the official nominees of both the parties as most of them are contesting from their po-cket boroughs. Among the rebels is Minister of State Sanjay Sawkare of NCP who joined BJP a few days back and will contest on BJP ticket to seek re-election from Bhusawal seat.

Former cabinet minister and state NCP president Babanrao Pachpute, who was dropped from the ministry to induct Sawkare, has also joined BJP and is in the fray from Srigonda
constituency.