Basavraj Patil, serving as the working president within the ranks of the Congress party, is poised to transition his political allegiance by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) later today, with the formal announcement expected to take place in the company of prominent BJP figures including the state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bavankule and Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Earlier this morning, Patil convened with Devendra Fadnavis at the latter's residence, marking a significant step towards his anticipated affiliation switch.
Holding the distinction of being elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for two consecutive terms from the Ausa constituency, Basavraj Patil commands influence as a notable leader within the Lingayat community, particularly in the Marathwada region.
During his initial term, Patil served as a state minister, contributing to governance initiatives in Maharashtra. However, in the 2019 electoral contest, he faced defeat at the hands of BJP leader Abhimanyu Pawar, signaling a shift in political fortunes.
In response to reports surrounding Patil's impending resignation, Congress state chief Nana Patole refuted the claims, asserting that no formal communication had been received regarding Patil's departure from the party. Patole emphasized that despite holding the position of working president within the state Congress apparatus, Patil's prolonged absence from party engagements has been conspicuous.
Patole remarked, "We have not received any resignation letter from Basavraj Patil. He is a working president of the state Congress party, but he has not attended any meetings for a long time," further elaborating, "He is not active in the party. We are also hearing the news from the media that he has quit the party, but he has not communicated with us."
