Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Udayanraje Bhosale, whose party workers have voiced opposition to his being given a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections, met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Mr Bhosale said that his meet was related to issues pertaining to his constituency. But in a way, his meeting is being seen as a tactic to put pressure on his party leadership by openly flirting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders.
“I have friends in all political parties. Mr Fadnavis is also my friend. But I want to tell you that my meeting with him was about issues related to my constituency,” said Mr Bhosale. Asked whether he wanted to join the BJP before the Lok Sabha elections, the NCP leader just smiled without reply.
Mr Bhosale is facing serious opposition from his party itself. All NCP MLAs and other leaders have opposed his candidature in a recent meeting of the party. Mr Bhosale is known for his independent nature and he has butted heads with the party’s local unit. This has also created buzz about the NCP finding a new face for the Satara Lok Sabha seat.
“My party is my people. I belong to them. Everyone has right to express his wish about a candidate. Everyone has the right to even contest. Finally, it’s the people who elect the leader,” said Mr Bhosale. “People keep giving me offers. But I haven’t accepted any till now. I will let you know once I do,” he said.
