Former Pune mayor Prashant Jagtap quits NCP (SP), joins Congress ahead of civic polls

Prashant Jagtap joined the party at the Congress headquarters in Mumbai. Pic/X (@INCHarshsapkal)

Former Pune mayor and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) city president Prashant Jagtap on Friday joined the Congress , a move the party said would strengthen it ahead of the Maharashtra local body elections scheduled for January 15, reported the PTI.

Jagtap joined the party at the Congress headquarters, Tilak Bhavan, in the presence of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Harshwardhan Sapkal. Several office-bearers of the NCP (SP) from Pune also joined the Congress along with him.

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Welcoming Jagtap, Sapkal said the Congress carries forward the ideological legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule and Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

He said that while some political parties focus only on power and money, Jagtap had joined the Congress for ideological reasons.

"People usually salute the rising sun, but Prashant Jagtap has chosen the Congress for its values and ideas," Sapkal said, according to the PTI.

Leaders praise ideological stand

Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Vijay Wadettiwar, said Jagtap refused to align with what he described as communal forces and chose the Congress without compromising on ideology.

He added that despite receiving several offers, Jagtap remained committed to progressive values.

"If leaders like him stand with us, 2029 will be ours," Wadettiwar said.

Criticism of BJP and ruling parties

Former minister Naseem Khan said the country is facing serious challenges related to democracy, the Constitution, farmers' issues, women's safety, unemployment and law and order.

He alleged that casteism and corruption are increasing and accused the BJP of misleading people and following a policy of breaking political parties.

"Only the Congress ideology can save the country," Khan said.

Jagtap explains his decision

Speaking after joining the party, Jagtap said the Congress is a 135-year-old organisation with a strong ideological foundation.

He said he joined to carry forward the ideas of Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Phule, Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

"My fight is against casteism and corruption, and today only the Congress can challenge the BJP," he said, adding that there can be no compromise on ideology, as per the PTI.

Reason for quitting NCP (SP)

Jagtap said he left the NCP (SP) after opposing the party's plan to align with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP for civic elections in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.

Earlier in the day, the Congress felicitated 41 municipal presidents who won in recent municipal council and nagar panchayat elections.

The party said it won 1,006 councillor seats and finished second in 100 municipal councils across Maharashtra.

Addressing the gathering, Sapkal alleged that ruling parties misused money and official machinery, but said Congress workers continued to fight despite threats, assaults and false cases, the news agency reported.

New tagline for civic polls

The Congress also unveiled its new slogan for the upcoming civic polls: "Congress will fight, Maharashtra will win."

Elections to 29 municipal corporations will be held on January 15, with vote counting on January 16.

(with PTI inputs)