Pune: Prashant Jagtap Stands by Congress Switch Despite NCP (SP) Decision to Stay with MVA

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 27th December 2025: A day after former city president of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) Prashant Jagtap joined the Congress, the NCP (SP) announced its decision to remain with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). When asked whether his decision to quit the party was a mistake in light of this development, Jagtap said he stood firmly by his choice.

Speaking to reporters, Jagtap said that when one talks about the ideology of Phule, Shahu and Ambedkar, there is no place for “ifs and buts”. He maintained that the decision he had taken was well thought out and that he had no regrets.

A day after formally joining the Congress, Jagtap visited the Congress Bhavan in Pune. He was welcomed by Pune Congress city president Arvind Shinde, senior Congress leader and former MLA Ramesh Bagwe, and party leader Abhay Chhajed. A large number of Congress workers were present on the occasion.

Addressing party workers, former MLA Ramesh Bagwe said that a committed worker who believes in the ideology of Phule, Shahu and Ambedkar had joined the Congress. He said Jagtap’s induction had infused fresh enthusiasm among party workers and expressed confidence that the Congress would benefit politically from his entry.

Jagtap, in his address, said that although he had visited the Congress Bhavan several times in the past, this visit was different as he had come as a sincere party worker. He said that going forward, he would dedicate his political life to the Congress and work strictly as per the party’s direction and discipline.

Jagtap’s move comes at a time of heightened political churn in Pune, amid speculation about realignments within opposition parties ahead of upcoming civic and political developments.