In Western Maharashtra, once again, the Congress has started trying to increase its strength. Ranjit Deshmukh, a former member of Satara Zilla Parishad and a leading Shiv Sena leader in the field of co-operation, has joined the Congress on Wednesday. The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and State President Balasaheb Thorat.
Ranjit Deshmukh has maintained his dominance in the drought stricken taluka of Maan Khatav. He was the President of Satara District Youth Congress and was elected as a Zilla Parishad member in 2007. He had properly organized Congress President Sonia Gandhi's drought tour. Ranjit Deshmukh was also instrumental in making Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit to Satara a success. However, he decided to quit the Congress as he was fed up with the internal polictics within the Congress.
Ranjit Deshmukh had joined the Shiv Sena after leaving the Congress. Ranjit Deshmukh had done some commendable work by starting about 70 fodder camps in drought prone area like Maan-Khatav. However, his Congress ideology couldn't match with Shiv Sena due to which his time in Sena was for short span. He has not been active in any political party since the 2019 Assembly elections. He has finally re-entered the Congress on Wednesday. Congress workers have expressed confidence that the entry of Ranjit Deshmukh will give strength to the Congress in Satara.