NCP seeks action against Vikhe Patil for canvassing for son

The NCP has accused senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil of canvassing for his son, who is the rival BJP's candidate from Ahmednagar Lok Sabha seat, and asked the grand old party to take action against him.

In a letter to Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan, NCP spokesperson Ankush Kakade said it was "very serious" that the Leader of Opposition was campaigning for his son Sujay Vikhe Patil instead of the Sharad Pawar-led party's nominee Sangram Jagtap from Ahmednagar.

The opposition Congress and NCP entered into a pre-poll seat-sharing pact to contest 25 and 19 Lok Sabha seats, respectively, out of the total 48 in the state.

Their allies Yuva Swambhiman Paksha and Bahujan Vikas Aghadi are contesting one seat each while the Raju Shetti-led Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna is contesting two seats.

Ahead of finalising the seat distribution arrangement, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil had insisted that the NCP share the Ahmednagar constituency with the Congress.

When the NCP did not relent, his son switched loyalties to the BJP, while the senior Congress leader excused himself from campaigning for the grand alliance.

"Vikhe Patil has been openly telling the media that the candidate of the 'Yuti' (BJP-Shiv Sena-RPI) will emerge victorious there. Besides, he is campaigning for his son," Kakade said in the letter dated April 6.

Kakade said the stand taken by the Congress leader has left the party workers in the constituency "confused".

"Hence, as the co-ordinator and observer of the alliance for Ahmednagar district, I request you to take action against him," he demanded.

Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil could not be reached for his comments.