Jolt to Congress as Oppn leader's son joins BJP

In a major to Congress, Maharashtra Opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil's son on Tuesday joined the BJP.

Dr Sujay Vikhe-Patil, a neurosurgeon joined the BJP in presence of Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP president Raosaheb Patil-Danve.

BJP's troubleshooter and water resources minister Girish Mahajan was in touch with the junior Vikhe-Patil since last couple of months.

Dr Sujay Vikhe-Patil is the son of Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, the Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and grandson of late Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil, who was a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

Dr Sujay Vikhe-Patil was keen to contest from Ahmednagar, however, NCP did not show an inclination to give the seat.

The senior Vikhe-Patil has himself met NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and Congress president Rahul Gandhi to resolve the issue, however, it did not materialise.

If Dr Sujay Vikhe-Patil is given the Ahmednagar seat, then the BJP would have to accommodate sitting MP Dilip Gandhi.