In a big setback for Congress in Maharashtra, senior party leader Balasaheb Thorat resigned from his post, a day after saying he cannot work with state Congress chief Nana Patole. After his resignation, there have been speculations if the Congress leader will now head towards the saffron camp.
Meanwhile, after his resignation, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a press conference said that the party’s doors are open for everyone and Thorat can join BJP if he wants.
“BJP’s doors are open for everyone. Balasaheb Thorat or anybody else can join the BJP if they want,” said Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Maharashtra BJP Chief. He also said that the resignation from the “great leader” calls for “serious introspection” within Congress.
Balasaheb Thorat, however, has not commented on joining any other party. He, in fact, had recently stated, “I am a Congressman and will always remain so.”
Balasaheb Thorat resigns
Thorat resigned from the post of Maharashtra Congress legislator party leader on Tuesday, a day after he wrote a letter to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to convey to the party’s central leadership he cannot work with Maharashtra unit chief Nana Patole due to the latter’s “anger” towards him
The former state unit chief and minister also said he is not being consulted before decisions were taken, his aide told news agency PTI. Thorat has also said he was insulted by the (state) party leadership and statements were made against his family on the (Tambe) issue, the aide said quoting the letter.
Nana Patole, however, denied that any such letter has been sent to the high command. Today, he hit back at Balasaheb Thorat and said that he never indulged in such dirty politics. Thorat’s nephew has blamed Patole for his ouster.
Why did Balasaheb Thorat resign?
Thorat reportedly had an outburst at a function organised for his birthday in Sangamner on Sunday evening. This comes days after then Nashik graduates constituency MLC Sudhir Tambe, who is the brother-in-law of Thorat, declined to contest despite being the Congress’ official candidate and got his son Satyajit Tambe to fight as an independent. Satyajit Tambe won the poll, results of which were announced on February 2.
The Congress has suspended Sudhir Tambe and Satyajit Tambe from the party for the MLC poll twist.
Referring to the Nashik graduates’ Legislative Council seat elections, he said, “I am pained by the politics that happened over the seat… I have conveyed my feelings to the party high command.”
