Congress leader Harshvardhan Patil says he is not joining BJP

Senior Congress leader Harshvardhan Patil, who met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis here a few days ago, on Friday rubbished the rumour that he was on his way to the BJP.

A picture of Patil and his daughter with Fadnavis was doing rounds on social media a day after Mumbai NCP chief Sachin Ahir joined the Shiv Sena, a ruling coalition partner.

Patil told PTI that he met Fadnavis to invite him for the release of his book "Vidhan Gatha" at the Legislature Complex here on July 30. NCP president Sharad Pawar and state Congress leaders will also be present, he said.

The former state minister denied that he was going to join the saffron party.

The speculation about Patil crossing over had started earlier before the Lok Sabha elections, when NCP leader Ajit Pawar said his party would not cede the Indapur assembly seat to the Congress even at the cost of alliance.

Patil had said he will contest from Indapur, his traditional constituency.

Asked about Pawar's comment, Patil said on Friday, "Much water has flown under the bridge since then."