BJP has suffered a major setback before the assembly elections in Maharashtra and the by-election on the Nanded Lok Sabha seat. Former CM Ashok Chavan’s brother-in-law and former MP Bhaskarrao Patil Khatgaonkar, his sister Dr. Meenal Patil Khatgaonkar and former MLA Om Prakash Pokarna have joined the Congress. Meanwhile, the Congress President in the state Nana Patol said that Bhaskarrao has joined the Congress without any greed for any post. He is happy to welcome such a grassroots worker. Let us tell you that by-elections are to be held on the Nanded Lok Sabha seat after the death of Congress MP Vasant Chavan.
Nana Patole said that the organization is continuously getting stronger in Nanded. Congress did not attack Ashok Chavan after he left Congress and joined BJP. Sources say that Congress has found this way to answer Ashok Chavan. In this way, a dent was made in the family itself in Congress. Meenal Patil Khatgaonkar had asked for a ticket from BJP during the Lok Sabha elections. However, BJP gave the ticket to former MP Pratap Patil Chikhlikar. In such a situation, she was dissatisfied with BJP, which benefited Congress.
Congress had won the Nanded seat even without Ashok Chavan. A senior Congress leader also said that welcoming Chavan’s close aides in this manner can send a wrong message to the party workers. Which can also affect the upcoming elections. Nana Patole said that Bhaskarrao has joined the party after discussions with Congress leaders and senior officials. A big program will also be organized to welcome him in Nanded. He said that the Nanded organization will become stronger with Bhaskarrao’s arrival.
Bhaskarrao Patil Khatgaonkar said, I feel I have returned home after joining Congress. The Congress party gave me the opportunity to serve as an MLA, MP and minister. I have returned after being in another party for some time. The party has become stronger in Maharashtra under the leadership of Nana Patole. This time in the assembly elections, Congress is going to get more seats than before. On Friday, Bhaskarrao along with two others joined the Congress at Tilak Bhavan in Dadar. Patole said that the decision to include Khatgaonkar in the party has been taken with consensus.
