India, Dec. 21 -- Several prominent leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of Congress, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) either joined or are set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, bolstering the Mahayuti's organisational base in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Political observers said the developments point to the ruling alliance gaining an edge ahead of the civic polls.

On Saturday, Sanjog Waghere, a senior leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and former mayor of Pimpri-Chinchwad, joined the BJP. Waghere had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Maval constituency and is considered to wield influence in Pimpri and adjoining areas.

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