NCP exodus: Rana Jagjitsinh Patil set to join BJP

Mumbai: Rana Jagjitsinh Patil, former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister and son of party supremo Sharad Pawar’s close confidant Padmasinh Patil, on Saturday announced that he would be joining the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Mr Patil announced his decision during a meeting with his supporters.

“There were impediments for development in my district (Osmanabad). There are no personal grudges and I would be leaving the party only for the sake of my constituency’s development,” the former minister said.

The latest development in the NCP exodus saga comes at a time when Mr Patil and his father were absent during the NCP’s Shivswarajya Yatra at Osmanabad — their home district.

Mr Patil, who represents Osmanabad in the state Assembly, added that taking the decision to quit the NCP has been a difficult one as he still considers Mr Pawar as his idol.

Although Mr Patil will be joining the BJP, he does not have support from alliance partner Shiv Sena. Local Sena leaders from Osmanabad — MP Pawanraje Nimbalkar and Tanaji Sawant — cautioned the BJP and said they would continue to oppose Mr Patil even after he joins the party.

Since the end of the Lok Sabha election, the Pawar-led party has been battling a series of high-profile exodus involving top leaders like Jaydutta Kshirsagar.