Eight Satara Municipal Council (SMC) members belonging to the ruling Nagar Vikas Aghadi led by former MP Bhosale senior, quit to join Udayanraje, the scion of Satara's royal family. The defection is believed to have given a major jolt to the former MP, who is now seeking another State Assembly stint.

According to Udayanraje, the Minister of State for Revenue, the defection was a simple affair. The eight SMC members approached him and expressed their wish to join his party. ``I accepted the offer,'' Udayanraje told media persons, claiming that there was going to be another possible defection in his uncle's camp. The former MP called the development a sequel to money power. ``Money played its role,'' a surprised Abhaysinhraje said, when contacted.

Though severalin Satara are unamused by the unanticipated revolt, Udayanraje claimed that none of the defected members were pressurised or lured. They switched over to BJP on their own, the Minister claimed. SMC was being controlled by autocrats, claimed Choudhary, while elaborating on the circumstances leading to their crossing over to the BJP.

He also accused the SMC president Ashok Mone of having turned the municipal council into a private business house. Choudhary alleged that Mone ran the SMC as if it is ``Mone Inc.'' and Abhaysinhraje stands by him. They saw a group led by Udayanraje as a better choice, he added. The Friday defection has kept the ruling Nagar Vikas Aaghadi on tenterhooks.