Former NCP leader Prasad Lad joins BJP

Former NCP general secretary Prasad Lad today joined ruling BJP in Nashik in presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Lad, former chairman Mumbai Board of Repairing and Reconstruction (MBRRB) under Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), joined BJP on the last day of the party's state unit's meeting today.
Last year, Lad had contested Maharashtra Legislative Council polls to give tough fight to a Congress candidate and had a tactical understanding with the BJP for the polls.
Stating that BJP is the future for the state and country in terms of leadership, Lad told PTI: "I have joined BJP because this is the only party which has competent leadership."

"Neither I demanded any post within the party nor have I been given any post. My primary focus is to work for the party and strengthen it," he said.
Lad is also one of the directors of the cash-rich Mumbai District Central Co-operative Bank.

BJP welcomed Lad saying they are confident that more leaders will join the party.
"We have welcomed Lad in our party fold and (are) confident that in the coming days many more leaders and people from all walks of the life would come to our party, which is the only hope for them," Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said.

Upadhye also admitted that BJP does not have strong base in the cooperative sector in Maharashtra and Lad's entry would help them penetrate in the sector.
"This is just the beginning. There are dozens of corporators in dozens of cities, most of them from Congress, NCP, MNS and independents are lined up to join us ahead of the civic polls," said another leader of the party.