NCP MLC Ram Pandagale today joined Shiv Sena ahead of Maharashtra assembly elections due in October, accusing party chief Sharad Pawar of being anti-dalit and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar a "dictator". He also blamed the state's ruling Congress-NCP combine for the "woeful condition" of dalits in the state.

"Ajit Pawar is a dictator who calls the shots in the party and we have been putting up with his behaviour for a long time. Anyone with self respect cannot tolerate this kind of behaviour. Hence we decided to join Shiv Sena," Pandagale, who joined Shiv Sena in the presence of party chief Uddhav Thackeray, said.