NCP rebels Laxman Jagtap and Vilas Lande had spoken openly about their desire to join the party again after winning the Chinchwad and Bhosari constituencies. But Jagtap and Anna Bansode, NCP MLA from Pimpri, also made public announcements demanding resignation of Azam Pansare, NCP’s Pimpri-Chinchwad unit chief. Jagtap had also criticised Pansare saying that he is not even capable of winning elections as an independent candidate.

However, party leaders are taking serious note of the issue, as around 40 NCP corporators supported rebels Jagtap and Lande during the elections. “Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar will intervene to sort out the issue. I am sure once Sharad Pawar holds talks with them all issues will be solved,” said Wani.

All was not well with the party in the recent times, which had a stranglehold in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation with 70 corporators in a house of 105. The party is currently faction-ridden with various groups of corporators rallying behind Lande, Jagtap and Pansare.

Laxman Jagtap, considered as a close confidant Ajit Pawar, said, “I am not making any statements now as R R Patil has asked me to be patient and assured me that all issues will be solved amicably. But I am going go to meet senior NCP leaders this week.”