BJP demands Patil's resignation

Kolhapur, Mar 8 (UNI) The BJP has demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil following an FIR being filed against him in Sangli.

The FIR has been registered after a Shiv Sena candidate for the panchayat samiti elections from Tasgaon taluka in Sangli district complained the Nationalist Congress Party was resorting to strong-arm tactics to get their own candidates elected. The Sena nominee alleged he had been forced to withdraw from the fray owing to the strong-arm tactics of the NCP in connivance of the police.

Mr Patil, who is also the home minister, has no right to continue in the ministry, BJP national spokesman Prakash Jawadekar said while addressing a press conference here today.

If Mr Patil does not resign voluntarily, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh should seek his resignation, Mr Jawadekar said.

A large number of people have registered their complaint before the State Election Commission regarding the pressure tactics adopted by the NCP, Mr Jawadekar claimed.

He demanded a fresh election notification in Tasgaon taluka for the zilla parishad and panchayat samiti polls.

UNI