Mumbai, September 28: Union Heavy Industries Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has succeeded in winning over his former rival BJP”s Shivajirao Patil Kavhekar, who is likely to join Congress soon. “Deshmukh visited my residence at Latur two days ago and offered me to join Congress.
My supporters have given a nod for the same,” Kavhekar, who trounced Deshmukh in the 1995 Assembly polls from Latur, told PTI over phone. Asked if the date of his joining Congress has been finalised, Kavhekar, who as a Janata Dal candidate defeated Deshmukh by over 30,000 votes, said “I will take a positive decision within a few days.
” “I have filed nomination from both Latur urban and rural seats and will withdraw them tomorrow,” Kavhekar said. Deshmukh”s son Amit is contesting from Latur city on Congress ticket.
Kavhekar quit NCP and joined BJP six years ago. “BJP general secretary Gopinath Munde, at whose instance our leader joined BJP, has ignored him,” a close aide of Kavhekar said.
—PTI–