Rane’s Bombshell: Rohit Pawar’s BJP Connection?

Maharashtra BJP minister Nitesh Rane has stirred controversy by alleging that NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, was in contact with BJP leaders and nearly joined the party in 2019.

Speaking in Pune on July 28, 2025, Rane claimed, “Although he is physically with NCP (SP), his heart lies with the BJP,” suggesting Pawar’s loyalty to Sharad Pawar’s faction is superficial. If true, these interactions could indicate Pawar considered defecting before the NCP split in 2023, when Ajit Pawar’s faction joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government, securing the NCP name and symbol.

Rohit Pawar, the Karjat-Jamkhed MLA, swiftly dismissed Rane’s allegations, accusing the minister of hypocrisy. “The way he changes clothes, he changes parties,” Pawar retorted, referencing Rane’s past shift from Congress to BJP. He emphasized his unwavering loyalty to NCP (SP) since entering politics and advised Rane to “look in the mirror.” Pawar’s sharp rebuttal highlights the ongoing tensions between the Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, especially as local elections loom.

Rane’s history of controversial statements, including 38 FIRs against him for alleged communal remarks, casts doubt on his credibility, while Pawar’s consistent alignment with Sharad Pawar’s ideology suggests the claim may be political posturing.

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