Mumbai: Senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil finally resigned as an MLA on Tuesday, paving the way for his entry into the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is expected to join the saffron party along with other Congress MLAs.
According to sources, Mr Vikhe-Patil held a meeting of disgruntled Congress MLAs at his residence, which was attended by Abdul Sattar, Jayk-umar Gore and Bharat Bhalke. Later he went to the legislature along with Mr Sattar and submitted his resignation to Asse-mbly Speaker Haribhau Bagade at his office.
“I didn’t even campaign for the party during Lok Sabha elections. I don’t doubt the high command. They had given me an opportunity by making me the Leader of Opposition. I tried to do good work but the situation made me resign,” said Mr Vikhe-Patil.
After submitting his resignation, he met the chief minister. According to sources, the closed-door meeting was to discuss Mr Vikhe-Patil’s role in the BJP after joining. There are reports that he will be inducted into the Devendra Fadnavis-led government as a
Cabinet minister.
When asked about joining the BJP, the senior leader said, “The party will take the decision on my joining.”
Mr Sattar, who also quit as a Congress MLA, expressed confidence that several Congress MLAs would resign from the party and join the BJP. He said, “Eight to 10 Congress MLAs are in touch with the BJP. We are disappointed with the Congress leadership in Maharashtra. Their way of functioning is the reason for our decision. The state leadership is destroying the party here.”
Mr Vikhe-Patil had quit as Leader of Opposition in March, soon after his son Sujay joined the BJP. Sujay contested the Ahmednagar Lok Sabha constituency on a BJP ticket and won with a margin of 2.81 lakh votes.
