Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil on way to BJP: Shiv Sena MLA Shirsat

Spokesperson of ruling Shiv Sena Sanjay Shirsat on Tuesday claimed Maharashtra NCP president Jayant Patil is on the verge of joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Reacting to Shirsat's claim, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto said ruling alliance partners Shiv Sena and the BJP were just playing mind games as all was not well between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis.

Shirsat also mocked former state finance minister Patil, saying his breaking down after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar announced his resignation in early May was nothing but a drama.

Talking to Marathi news channel ABP Majha here, the Shiv Sena MLA from Aurangabad (West) hit out at the NCP, saying the main Opposition party in the state was itself an outcome of ''betrayal''.

Earlier in the day, NCP leaders and workers observed ''gaddar din'' (traitor's day) in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra to mark the first anniversary of the rebellion by a section of Shiv Sena MLAs led by Shinde, who later took over as Chief Minister.

''Jayant Patil became emotional the day NCP president Sharad Pawar announced his resignation from the top party post (Pawar later withdrew the resignation). It was just a drama. Jayant Patil is on the verge of joining the BJP. The NCP should not teach us (about loyalty). The party (NCP) is an outcome of betrayal,'' said Shirsat.

NCP spokesperson Crasto said in Mumbai, ''Mind games...all is not well between Fadnavis and Shinde and therefore to divert attention they are doing this. Earlier (NCP leader) Ajit dada Pawar and now Jayant Patil ji.'' In April, speculation was rife that NCP leader Ajit Pawar was planning to join the BJP, but he denied any such move and accused the media of spreading rumours about him.