Congress leader's son might join BJP to contest LS polls

Mumbai: Sujay Vikhe-Patil, the son of Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, could fight independently or join the BJP to contest the Lok Sabha election from the Ahmednagar seat. However, the Vikhe-Patil family has been tight-lipped on the issue.

According to sources, the supporters of Mr Vikhe-Patil held the meeting at Pravara Nagar sugar factory. In the meeting, they appealed to Sujay to contest the LS polls from Ahmednagar irrespective of whether the NCP offers the seat to the Congress.

If the NCP refuses to allot the Ahmednagar seat, the supporters asked Sujay to consider two options — to fight independently or join the BJP to contest on their ticket. The activists urged Sujay to take a final call at the earliest.

Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly, is reportedly livid over no decision still being taken over the Nagar seat. He was absent in both the joint rallies of Congress and the NCP held at Nanded and Parli recently.

The NCP had contested the Ahmednagar seat in the last LS polls. However, to disable Sujay from contesting the Nagar seat, the Congress has expressed its willingness to exchange the Aurangabad seat with the NCP.

However, the Vikhe-Patil family is tight-lipped over the issue. When asked, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said, "We have informed the party high command the activists' demand to contest from the Ahmednagar seat. Whatever decision the high command takes, we will abide by that.