Patole claims BJP rebellion will help Congress-MVA's Wanjari in Nagpur graduates' seat

Former Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole has claimed that the rebellion within the BJP in the Nagpur division graduates' constituency will benefit Congress-MVA candidate Abhijit Wanjari. According to Patole, Wanjari will win by more votes than in the previous election.

Patole was answering reporters' questions in Nagpur. Asked about Karale Master of the NCP (Sharad Pawar), an MVA constituent, turning rebel, he said Anil Deshmukh had told him that he would persuade Karale Master to withdraw his nomination.

Reporters also asked about the agitation under way in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Patole said the Supreme Court had made clear that it had not permitted changes in Form 6. On that basis, he said, it had been proved that Gyanesh Kumar and Modi had engaged in vote theft. He said this government had come to power through vote theft.

Patole said the agitation was being held to demand Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, the cancellation of the SIR and voting by ballot paper.

On the Maharashtra Public Service Commission paper leak case, Patole asked what need there was to form a committee. According to him, instead of wasting time, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should immediately take the resignation of the MPSC chairman.

On the drought, Patole said Fadnavis had told the House that the situation this year was serious. Patole asked why, if that was so, fertiliser and seeds had been sold to farmers at high prices. He said the government should instead take immediate measures. Patole also asked where drinking water would come from.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Patole thus addressed several issues, from the graduates' election to the Election Commission, the MPSC paper leak and drought. On the graduates' seat, his claim was that the BJP rebellion would widen Congress-MVA candidate Abhijit Wanjari's winning margin over last time.