Chhatrapati Shivaji's descendent joins Congress

Mumbai, Apr 19 (UNI) Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Udayanraje Bhosale, the 13th direct descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji, today formally joined the Congress.

Mr Bhosale was welcomed into the party fold by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and State Congress Chief Prabha Rau at the party office in South Mumbai.

Mr Bhosale had called on Congress President Sonia Gandhi in Delhi recently and announced his decision to quit the BJP.

He had represented the Satara Assembly constituency as a BJP member and was a minister of state in the Shiv Sena-BJP government during 1995-99.

Former Inspector General of Police T K Choudhari, who was earlier in Samajwadi Party,m also joined the Congress.

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