Mumbai: The Congress, Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will join hands against BJP candidate Niranjan Davkhare in the election for the Konkan graduate constituency of the state Legislative Council. For the first time in two decades, NCP chief Sharad Pawar is personally looking into ensuring victory and will address a gathering of leaders in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday; bringing to the fore the escalating tension between the NCP and BJP over the latter’s alleged attempts at poaching the former’s leaders.

Former NCP MLC, Mr Davkhare, recently joined the BJP in the presence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The CM even hinted at many more NCP leaders waiting to join the BJP. With the BJP targeting its leaders, NCP is now working hard to stop this exodus. To begin with, Mr Pawar has thrown himself into the battlefield and is likely to address Wednesday’s joint rally of NCP, Congress and PWP leaders. Hitherto, such low-key affairs were handled by the second rung of the party leadership.

A senior NCP leader clarified the party position saying, “We have no option. Many leaders are indicating that they will join the BJP ahead of the general elections. The CM is also concentrating on poaching strong NCP leaders. To stop this, we will have to get Mr Davkhare defeated in the coming elections, which will make other vulnerable leaders think twice before leaving the party.”

The Shiv Sena is fielding Sanjay More, former mayor of Thane, in the Konkan graduate constituency whereas NCP is yet to announce its candidate.