India, Feb. 27 -- After the drubbing in the assembly polls in November 2024, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) may face large scale desertions in the coming weeks. Speculations are rife that at least three leaders of the party - Rahul Mote, Rahul Jagtap and Vijay Bhamble - are in touch with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and may switch sides soon, said party insiders. All three leaders had unsuccessfully contested the assembly elections last year.

Mote, a three-term MLA, had contested the assembly poll against Shiv Sena's Tanaji Sawant from the Paranda assembly seat, but lost by 1,509 votes while Bhamale had contested from Jintur and lost to BJP's Meghana Bordikar for the second consecutive time. Jagtap had contested from Shri...