Maharashtra Cong: Vikhe Patil Resigns, Likely to Switch to BJP

This comes after the speculations of him quitting the party and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil’s (Centre) resigned as a member of the Lower House.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/R Vikhe Patil)

Former Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly and senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Tuesday, 4 June, resigned as a member of the Lower House.

This comes after speculation of him quitting the party and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Patil also met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday.

It is also reported that more than three MLAs are planning to switch parties and may be inducted in the Maharashtra government led by Fadnavis.

These developments may cause discomfort to the Congress ahead of the Legislative Assembly elections that will be held later this year.

Son Switched to BJP Before Lok Sabha Polls

Vikhe Patil's son Sujay Vikhe Patil had switched to the BJP from Congress before the Lok Sabha polls. He won with a margin of 2.81 lakh votes from Ahmednagar Lok Sabha constituency.

Vikhe Patil had quit as Leader of Opposition in March, days after his son joined the BJP.

The Congress leader submitted his resignation as MLA to Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagade at his office in Mumbai, an official said.

(With inputs from PTI)