Mumbai: The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly and Congress heavyweight Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil has chosen a muhurt to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Ahmednagar on April 12.
Sources in the BJP claimed apart from Vikhe Patil, senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Vijaysinh Mohite Patil is also set to join the BJP in the presence of Modi. “It would be shocking for Congress, when the LoP would quit Congress and join the BJP. What will remain in Congress, when the LoP is joining the ruling party,” said a senior BJP functionary.
The son of both these leaders have already quit their original party and joined the BJP. Sujay, son of Vikhe-Patil, has been given a BJP ticket from Ahmednagar seat whereas, Ranjitsinh, son of Vijaysinh Mohite Patil, narrowly missed the party, even though he was assured of it before he joined the ruling party. Both the leaders are likely to join the BJP during the scheduled rallies of Modi in the state.
“A rally of PM Modi is planned in Ahmednagar on April 12, where Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil will join the BJP along with some disgruntled Congress leaders. Vijaysinh Mohite Patil and his supporters will join the BJP in a rally on April 17, which will be held in Akluj,” said a BJP insider.
Vijaysinh Mohite Patil, who is NCP’s sitting Member of Parliament (MP) from Madha constituency in Solapur district, was not happy with the party’s decision to reject claims of his son Ranjitsinh to the seat. He was also denied a ticket from Madha as NCP chief Sharad Pawar had announced to contest from the constituency. However, Pawar, later announced that he was not interested in contesting the election. Following this, Ranjitsinh decided to quit the NCP and join the BJP.
