Mumbai: Two weeks after being overlooked for the MLC elections, with the party awarding the ticket to Zeeshan Siddique, NCP spokesperson and former MP Anand Paranjape resigned from the party. The Thane-based leader is expected to join the Shiv Sena under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He had met Shinde shortly after the MLC polls concluded.
Loss for NCP in Thane-Palghar
Paranjape's exit is a significant blow for the NCP, as he commands a strong following in the Thane-Palghar belt. His father, Prakash Paranjape, was a Member of Parliament and a prominent Shiv Sena leader under Bal Thackeray. Following his father's death, Anand Paranjape joined the Shiv Sena and won the Lok Sabha bypoll from Thane in 2008, and later the Kalyan Lok Sabha seat. In 2012, he left the Shiv Sena to join the NCP under Sharad Pawar. In 2014, he lost the Lok Sabha election to Shrikant Shinde, son of Eknath Shinde. In 2023, after the NCP split, he aligned with Ajit Pawar's faction.
Resignation Letter and Social Media Post
In his resignation letter, Paranjape stated he was stepping down as general secretary, spokesperson, and primary member of the party. The letter, addressed to NCP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, expressed gratitude for the responsibilities entrusted to him. On X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: "Many emotions are surging in my heart. My 14-year journey in the NCP, the love and trust I received from all leaders, office-bearers and workers will remain etched in my memory. Today, with an extremely heavy heart, I am concluding this journey and stepping onto a new path to begin a fresh journey."
