Maharashtra Congressman’s son joins BJP

Mumbai, March 12 (IANS) The Congress suffered a massive jolt after Sujay Vikhe-Patil, son of the leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, on Tuesday joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state party chief Raosaheb Danve-Patil and others senior leaders welcomed him to the party fold and offered him the Lotus symbol and the party flag.

Along with Sujay Vikhe-Patil, several other prominent leaders and legislators from Ahmednagar are likely to join the BJP.

"We are happy to welcome Sujay Vikhe-Patil to the BJP. Soon he will realize that his decision is not erroneous. With his entry, Ahmednagar will also become a bastion of BJP," Fadnavis said.

He said the party was keen to field him from Ahmednagar Lok Sabha seat but since the decision would be taken by the BJP central high command, his name would be recommended for the same.

Danve-Patil and other leaders said that "there is a lot of 'incomings' into the BJP" and that at least 5 prominent leaders from different parties are expected to cross over in the coming few days.

"I have taken the decision to join the BJP going against the wishes of my entire family," said Sujay, adding he was ready to serve the new party in any capacity.

According to present indications, he is likely to be fielded from the prestigious Ahmednagar Lok Sabha seat, considered a bastion of the renowned Vikhe-Patil clan.

The family attained national and international fame after the late Padmashri Vithalrao Vikhe-Patil created history by launching Asia's first cooperative sugar mill in Ahmednagar.

Later, his son Eknathrao alias Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil was a prominent Congress leader who shifted to the Shiv Sena and served as the Heavy Industries Minister and Minister of State for Finance in the Vajpayee government.

His son, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil is another prominent Congress leader and currently leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly since past nearly four-and-half years, while his son Sujay has thrown his lot with the BJP.

Last month, Sujay's cousin, Nila Ashok Vikhe-Patil, was appointed Political Advisor in the Swedish Prime Minister K. Stefan Lofven's Office.

Meanwhile, mocking Radhakrishna, Shiv Sena spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut today invited him to join his party.

"After all, his father, the late Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil was a senior Shiv Sena leader and also a Union minister. Our doors are open for his son Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, too," Raut told mediapersons.