patole-bjp-mlas-to-join-congress-mahayuti-faces-dissent

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole claimed on Friday that several BJP legislators are expected to join his party before the state assembly elections. Patole made the statement following the induction of former BJP MP Shishupal Patle into Congress.

 

Patole suggested that discontent is growing among the allies of the Mahayuti coalition, which includes the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) headed by Ajit Pawar. 

 

“Many leaders of the BJP and its allies will join the Congress in the coming days,” Patole said.

 

Patle, who previously served as an MP from Bhandara, criticised the BJP, asserting that the party has transformed into a “party of contractors and traders” and no longer connects with farmers and the working classes. 

 

“The BJP has used central probe agencies to undermine opposition parties. I joined the Congress to work for people,” Patle added.

 

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition won 30 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena (UBT) contested 21 seats, Congress 17, and the NCP (SP) 10. The ruling Mahayuti coalition won only 17 seats, with the BJP’s representation falling significantly to nine seats from 23 in 2019.