Maha Congress fissures widen as CLP leader Balasaheb Thorat resigns

Mumbai/New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) The internal crisis in the Maharashtra Congress deepened as a veteran Vijay alias Balasaheb Thorat resigned as the Congress Legislative Party Leader, party sources revealed.

He has sent in his offer to quit to the party high command in New Delhi and not to the Assembly Speaker, the sources said.

However, Congress state President Nana Patole denied any such development and said he has not received any resignation letter from Thorat.

"I wish Thoratji 'many happy returns' on his birthday today and wished him a long and healthy life... However, I have not got any such letter which is claimed. At least he should communicate with us, then we can discuss the issues," a visibly exasperated Patole said to persistent queries by mediapersons.

Though the party central leadership has not yet accepted his resignation, Thorat is said to be adamant on quitting the crucial post he has been holding since June 2019.

The resignation caps off a bitter feud that erupted between Thorat-Patole after the recent results of the Nashik Graduates Constituency MLC biennial polls last week.

The election was won by a Congress rebel contesting as independent Satyajeet Tambe -- nephew of Thorat -- and trounced the MVA nominee Shubhangi Patil.