At a time when leaders of the NCP and Congress are making a beeline to enter the ruling camp ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls, former BJP MLA Vijay Ghodmare on Saturday chose to join the Sharad Pawar-led party. Ghodmare, who had represented Hingana constituency in Nagpur district, made the formal crossover at the residence of Pawar in Mumbai, a party statement said.

Ghodmare said he was ready to work in whatever capacity the party chief wanted him to. The NCP, once a ruling party in Maharashtra in alliance with the Congress, is now grappling with a crisis due to desertions by a number of leaders on the eve of elections.