In a setback for the Congress in Maharashtra, the son of the leader of opposition in the state joined the BJP today. Sujay Vikhe Patil was welcomed into the BJP by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other senior leaders of the party in Mumbai.
Sujay Vikhe Patil, the son of senior Congress leader Radha Krishna Vikhe Patil, has been upset over not being fielded by the party from Ahmednagar which is considered the stronghold of the Vikhe Patil family, of which Sujay belongs to the fourth-generation.
#Maharashtra: Sujay Vikhe Patil joins BJP in presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He is son of Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly. pic.twitter.com/6Cr4eez99R
— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2019
While addressing the media, CM Devendra Fadanavis said, ” Sujay Vikhe Patil’s name has been forwarded by state unit to Central Parliamentary board for Lok Sabha candidature and we are sure that the recommended name will be accepted by the Central Parliamentary board.”
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Earlier, a functionary of the Amit Shah-led party had indicated that Sujay Vikhe Patil, son of senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil will join BJP on Tuesday. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil is also the Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly.
Sujay joined the BJP Tuesday in presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a district BJP leader said earlier. The development follows the Sharad Pawar-led NCP spurning a request by Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil to leave aside the Ahmedanagar Lok Sabha seat for his son.