Over 100 BJP leaders to join Congress in Afzalpur
Kalburgi: In a major setback to the BJP and its nominee from Afzalpur in the imminent Assembly polls Malikayya Guttedar, over a 100 party activists, including office-bearers of the party structure at various levels and elected representatives, have resolved to quit the BJP to join the Congress.
At a press confenerece here, M.Y. Patil, a senior leader who recently quit the BJP to join the Congress after his arch-rival Guttedar left the Congress and joined the BJP, released a collective resignation letter which was signed by over 100 local leaders.
Those who have signed the resignation letter included BJP’s district unit secretary Prakash S. Jamadar, district farmers wing vice-president Tukaramgowda Patil, State unit member Shivananda Gadi, mandal vice-presidents Bhimaraya Gaura, Bhasha Patel Hasaragundi, Bhiranna Pujari and Mandal secretaries Sharanu Kumbar, Manjunath S., Ashok Sidagante, Nijaguna Chakravarthi, Yallanagowda Patil and Siddamma Guled.
Mr. M.Y. Patil, who is likely to be the Congress candidate in Afzalpur, claimed that 10 taluk panchayat members, five zilla panchayat members, a majority of Afzalpur Town Municipal Council members and a large section of party workers were supporting him. “Taluk panchayat and municipal council members would tender resignation to the BJP and join me in the Congress as their action doesn’t attract the anti-defection law. Zilla panchayat members, however, will not officially quit the party in view of the law. Most of the zilla panchayat members are women. They will technically continue to be in BJP, but their husbands will practically campaign for the Congress,” he said.
On denial of BJP ticket to him, Mr. M.Y. Patil said that the party leadership preferred Mr. Guttedar over him as he had assured the party leadership that he would ensure a victory of the party candidates in at least 15 constituencies in the Hyderabad Karnataka region.
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Maharashtra will have third Dy CM, says Sanjay Raut citing Sena rift; Samant hits back
Mumbai, Jan 24 (PTI): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday took a dig at Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and claimed a rift in the latter's party, saying Maharashtra will have a third deputy chief minister from the fold.
Talking to reporters, the Rajya Sabha MP said the activities behind the scenes were such that the state could have three deputy chief ministers in the future.
Maharashtra currently has Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar as deputy chief ministers.
"No one should take Eknath Shinde seriously. He is a deputy chief minister. He was the chief minister yesterday. He will not be there tomorrow because Maharashtra is getting a third deputy chief minister from the same party. He (Shinde) should think about this," Raut said.
He further alleged that Shinde was serving the "enemies" of Maharashtra, referring to the party's ally BJP.
Raut's remarks have come days after he claimed that Industries Minister Uday Samant could split the Shinde-led Sena, as he has the support of 20 MLAs.
When Shinde was sulking over the denial of the CM post after the state elections in November last year, there were plans to introduce Samant, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader claimed.
Samant, however, denied any difference with party chief Shinde and asserted attempts were being made to create a rift between them.
Samant said some former MLAs of the Sena UBT will join the Shinde-led Sena on February 15.
He said four MLAs and three MPs from Shiv Sena (UBT), five Congress MLAs, and 10 former legislators will join the party, he said.
Hitting back, Raut said Shiv Sena should focus on its cadre rather than poaching leaders from his party.
