Shiv Sena receives jolt as Kolhe quits, joins NCP

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena received a jolt ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, as its deputy leader Amol Kolhe, who is also a well-known actor, joined the Sharad Pawar-led NCP Friday. He is likely to be given a NCP ticket from the Shirur constituency.

While joining the NCP in the presence of a senior party leader, Mr Kolhe said that he wanted to “strengthen the hands of Sharad Pawar.”

“There is lot of restiveness in the country’s politics and the youth need the right direction. Sharad Pawar is capable of giving that. I want to strengthen his hands by joining the NCP,” he said.

While announcing the decision to quit the Sena, he described Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray as a “cultured man”.

He said, “I am indebted for the love and affection of the Sena workers from all over the state. But I am quitting the party, as ‘some decisions have to be taken at the right time’.”

Asked about speculation that the NCP was planning to field Mr Kolhe from Shirur, state NCP president Jayant Patil said that the party had not discussed this issue with him. “We will announce all the candidates when they are finalised,” Patil said.

Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said that Mr Kolhe’s entry would benefit the party in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.