The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction led by Uttamrao Patil is all set to join the Congress on Wednesday (September 24) at a function to be held in Patil's native village of Loni in Arni tehsil, about 30 km away from the city, sources said.
Patil's younger son Manish Uttamrao Patil who is also Yavatmal District Central Co-Operative Bank's (YDCC) chairman told PTI here today, that former zilla parishad president Prafulla Mankar as well as other followers of the faction are all set to join the Congress.
"Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had sent a message through the Social Justice Minister Shivajirao Moghe and Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly Vasant Purke. Accordingly, we went to Mumbai a weeks ago, met the Chief Minister and expressed our desire to return to the Congress," Manish Patil said, adding that the Chief Minister advised them to go ahead with their plan.
"We have demanded protection from the NCP leadership in the district," Manish Patil said, adding that the Chief Minister has assured them of all help.
When asked about the reaction of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Manikrao Thakre at whose behest Uttamrao Patil and his supporters quit the Congress and joined the NCP more than five years ago, Manish Patil said that he (Thakre) had "welcomed" the move.
Two other prominent NCP leaders, namely Nilay Naik (former zilla parishad president) from Pusad and Sanjay Derekar (former NCP district president) are also set to quit the NCP and join Congress as well as Shiv Sena respectively, sources said.
Earlier, the former MLA and former NCP district president Prakash Patil Deosarkar from Umarkhed had quit NCP and joined the Shiv Sena with his supporters.
However, former zilla parishad vice president Prakash Mankar and YDCC director Vasant Ghuikhar are still in the NCP, despite their allegience to former MP Uttamrao Patil.
The exodus from the NCP continues, though sitting MLC Sandeep Bajoria has declared his candidature and begun his election campaign for the Maharashtra assembly polls.
