Veteran Shiv Sena leader and former MP Mohan Rawle today formally joined Sharad Pawar-led National Congress Party here.
NCP's Maharashtra unit president Bhaskar Jadhav formally inducted Rawle, who represented Mumbai South-Central seat five times, into the party NCP.
Jadhav said Rawle's entry into the party was "unconditional".
"Rawle wants to work and NCP is providing him the opportunity. He has been entrusted with the campaign work for our MP Sanjay Dina Patil in Mumbai North East constituency," he told reporters.
Rawle, a veteran Shiv Sena leader, said that the doors of the Sena were shut on him by the party leadership even though he had not indulged in any anti-party activity or criticised the leadership.
"I just spoke the truth, what ordinary Sena workers feel. I was not allowed to meet (party chief) Uddhav Thackeray for four years," he said.
He also clarified he had not joined Raj Thackeray-led MNS after he was sacked from Shiv Sena. "I had met Raj Thackeray for personal business. Politicians do meet each other and there is nothing wrong. There was no political motive in my meeting with Raj," Rawle said.
Rawle had represented the Mumbai South-Central constituency for five consecutive terms.
