Ideology left by wayside in scramble for power

ASSEMBLY ELECTION | Principles and loyalty get a burial as changing parties, and preserving one's interests, become the order of the day

- Kalpesh Mhamunkar, Prajakta Pol

If not now, when? Newcomers and heirs of heavyweight leaders alike are queuing up to defect to another party to ensure victory in the assembly election.

One such prominent defector is Sandip Naik, son of senior BJP leader Ganesh Naik, who joined the NCP (SP) on Tuesday.

NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar attended a grand event organised by Naik's supporters at Vishnudas Bhave Natyagruha, in Vashi, where NCP state president Jayant Patil was also present.

Naik is likely to contest from Belapur, the assembly constituency currently represented by the BJP MLA Manda Mhatre. The move is a serious setback to the BJP since it has nominated Sandip's father Ganesh Naik from Airoli while ignoring him for Belapur. Despite being in the same party, both Mhatre and Naik are arch-political rivals.