Congress veteran D Y Patil joins NCP

Veteran Congress leader and Maharashtra education baron D Y Patil Sunday joined Sharad Pawar-led NCP in Pune.

The surprise move has stunned his party workers as well as family members.

Maharashtra NCP spokesperson Ankush Kakade confirmed to PTI that Patil has joined his party.

"He was in touch with us and today he called me expressing his willingness to work for NCP. I invited him and completed the procedure and also handed over him the letter of he becoming member of NCP," Kakade said.

When asked about Patil switching from the Congress to the NCP, Kakade said, "I was not aware of the details. He must have discussed it with Sharad Pawar about his role and responsibilities in the NCP".

The octogenarian leader was not available for comment.

Patil's son and former state minister Satej Patil, confirmed in a statement that his father has joined the NCP.

"As a family, it is a surprising decision for everyone. NCP leadership should have intimated someone in our family about his decision, but we feed sad that it did not happen in that way," Satej Patil said.

"However, my political stand is clear. I have been working with Congress party for a long time, and I will continue to do so in future as well," he said.

Satej Patil had served as Minister of State in Maharashtra cabinet and is currently a member of Maharashtra state council on Congress ticket.

D Y Patil is a former MLA of Congress from Kolhapur district and the chancellor of D Y Patil Deemed University. He had also served as governor of Tripura and held charge for Bihar for a short stint.

The DYP group owns a major cricket stadium in Navi Mumbai, which has been facing financial troubles for a long time after the BCCI stopped holding any cricket matches there.

The Patil family controls several educational and higher educational institutes, engineering colleges and a couple of universities. The group is also into hospitality business and run sugar mills.