Senior NCP leader from Konkan region and former Maharashtra minister Bhaskar Jadhav announced to Join Shiv Sena on Monday. This is considered as another setback for NCP. Jadhav started his political career with the Shiv Sena but later joined the Sharad Pawar-led party.

He held a meeting with his supporters on Monday in his hometown Guhagar in Ratnagiri district, where he made the announcement. Recently several senior leaders from the opposition NCP and Congress joined the ruling BJP and NCP in the state. Assembly elections are due in the state next month.

Jadhav told reporters in Ratnagiri that he has decided to join the Shiv Sena on September 13 after considering his future steps with his supporters. He said, "I met Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray a few weeks ago and he offered me to come to the party."

When asked about contesting from Guhagar assembly seat once again in the upcoming assembly elections, Jadhav said that he wants this but the decision will be made by the Shiv Sena leadership. He said, "If I am asked, I want to contest from this seat. But I will wait for the official announcement of Shiv Sena list. However, it is certain that I am going to join Shiv Sena. "

Jadhav joined the NCP in the year 2000 and later became a minister in the Congress-NCP coalition government in Maharashtra. Last month, party MLA Avdhoot Tatkare, nephew of NCP MP Sunil Tatkare, announced his joining the Shiv Sena.