Maharashtra Polls: Congress Expels Jayshree Patil For Independent Contest In Sangli Against Party Nominee

Maharashtra Election 2024: The Congress party has suspended Jayshree Patil for seeking an independent candidacy in the Sangli constituency. Previously, the party announced suspension of 16 other rebels.

Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Congress party has expelled Jayshree Patil for six years for contesting as an independent candidate in the Sangli constituency against the party's official nominee. The decision was announced in an official statement from the party.

"In the Maharashtra State General Assembly Election 2024 in 282 Sangli Assembly Constituency, you are contesting the election as an independent candidate while the official candidate of the Congress party is contesting," the statement read, as per news agency ANI. It added, "Since this act of yours violates party discipline. On the instructions of Congress state President Nana Patole, you have been suspended from the Congress party for the next 6 years."

The BJP, which holds the seat, has fielded its sitting MLA Sudhir Gadgil from Sangli seat while the Maha Vikas Aghadi's official candidate is Congress leader Prithviraj Patil.

Jayashri Patil is the wife of late Maharashtra minister and prominent Congress leader Madan Patil. She is also Lok Sabha MP Vishal Patil's sister-in-law. They belong to the family of Maharashtra CM late Vasantdada Patil. 

Maharashtra Election 2024: Congress Suspended 16 Rebels After Warning

This comes as part of a broader action by Congress state President Nana Patole, who recently suspended 16 rebel candidates for a period of six years for standing against the official candidates of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The list of suspended leaders includes Sonal Kove, Abhilasha Gavature, Premsagar Ganvir, Ajay Lanjewar, Vilas Patil, Hanskumar Pandey, Kamal Vyavhare, Mohanrao Dandekar, Mangal Bhujbal, Manoj Sinde, Vijay Khadse, Shabir Khan, Avinash Lad, Yajnavalkya Jichkar, Rajendra Mulak, and Anandrao Gedam, ANI reported.

The action follows Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala's earlier statement, where he warned that all rebels contesting against the MVA's official candidates would face suspension for six years.

Meanwhile, in a show of unity, rebel Congress leader Mukhtar Shaikh has withdrawn his nomination as an independent from the Kasba Peth Assembly constituency. Shaikh declared his support for the official MVA candidate, Ravindra Dhangekar, citing reassurances he had received from Congress leadership. "I have received several calls of reassurances from Congress' leadership, which led to the withdrawal of my nomination," he said, as quoted by ANI.

With polling for the 288 Assembly seats set for November 20 and counting on November 23, the contest between the Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliances has intensified.