Ahead of crucial Maharashtra assembly election Nationalist Congress Party-NCP today got a boost as nine independent legislators joined the party in a press conference in Mumbai.

The new entrants included minister Dilip Sopal, who was not present during the induction, but announced his entry via mobile phone call to Deputy Chief Minister and senior party leader Ajit Pawar.

The other legislators who joined the Sharad Pawar-led NCP today are Mansingh Naik from Shirala, Balasaheb Patil from Karad, Makrand Patil from Wai, Ramesh Thorat from Daund, Babasaheb Patil from Ahmedpur, Suresh Deshmukh from Wardha, Sharad Gavit from Navapur and Sahebrao Patil from Amalner.

NCP has also inducted ex-legislator Rajan Teli, a former aide of Congress state campaign chief Narayan Rane in to the party. Speaking about the seat shearing with Congress Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that top leaders of both the parties held meeting in Delhi and the ball is now in the Congress' court.

He also made it clear that NCP is firm on contesting 144 seats for the October 15 polls. Asked if there are plans to contest polls sans Congress, Pawar said so far there are no such plans.

In a answer to another query Pawar said senior NCP leaders feel that there should be no division of secular votes.