SHOCKING NCP (SP) Exit Rumors: Jayant Patil Slams BJP Switch Speculation!
Maharashtra NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil dismisses claims of resigning or joining BJP as baseless.
Jayant Patil, the Maharashtra president of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), has strongly refuted rumors about resigning from his post or switching to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Addressing reporters at Vidhan Bhavan on Monday, Patil dismissed media reports suggesting he had met BJP leaders or been approached by the ruling coalition, calling such claims entirely unfounded.
Speculation about Patil’s potential exit and a possible move to the BJP, along with reports that MLC Shashikant Shinde would replace him as NCP (SP) state president, has been circulating in some media outlets. Patil, a trusted aide of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, clarified, “I haven’t spoken to any BJP leader, nor has anyone from their side contacted me. These rumors keep resurfacing, but they’re baseless. How many times must I deny them?”
The eight-time MLA from Islampur, Sangli, also addressed comments made during a legislative assembly discussion, where he praised the Modi government’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme. He noted that DBT is more effective than certain state government initiatives, like distributing utensils, which often provide substandard items to families. Patil emphasized that appreciating a specific policy doesn’t signal a shift in loyalty. “Liking a scheme doesn’t mean I’m joining the BJP. Meeting CM Devendra Fadnavis for official work doesn’t imply a switch either,” he said.
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Patil, who has been with Sharad Pawar since the NCP’s inception in 1999, remained loyal during the 2023 party split when Deputy CM Ajit Pawar joined the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition. At the NCP’s 26th foundation day event in Pune on June 10, Patil hinted at stepping down to make way for younger leadership, sparking further speculation. However, he continues to lead the party’s state unit as it prepares for its general body meeting on Tuesday.
When asked if he would take action against media outlets for spreading rumors, Patil took a lighthearted approach: “These same outlets also publish positive stories about me. If a party with 10 MLAs gets this much attention, maybe I should thank them for the publicity.”
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