Mumbai: As the time for assembly elections in Maharashtra draws near, the defections of leaders are on the rise. More from our across-the-m., the worst stampede is in the NCP. Several NCP leaders have joined the BGP and Shiv Sena in the past. Another NCP's big face could go to the BJP. Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar is also to say goodbye to the party.

If Nimbalkar Agar goes to the BJP, it could be attributed to his ongoing confrontation with NCP MP Udayanraje Bhosle from Satara. Nimbalkar comes from a royal family of Phaltan Taluka in Satara district while Bhosle is a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It is also expected that Nimbalkar will continue as Chairman of the Legislative Council even after the change of party.

Bhosle's younger brother Shivendraraje has already joined the BJP. He is likely to be a candidate from the Jawali seat in the western Maharashtra district. Despite NCP chief Sharad Pawar's efforts to reach a reconciliation, Nimbalkar and Bhosle continued to condemn each other in public fora. Earlier, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who was the Leader of the Opposition, joined the BJP and is now a Minister. His son is a BJP MP from Ahmednagar Lok Sabha Sat. From then on, there was speculation that he too would soon join the BJP.

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