Patil says allegations are baseless

Kolhapur, Mar 8 (UNI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil today lashed out at the Opposition saying it was hurling baseless allegations against him to mislead the electorate on the eve of the zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections.

Talking to reporters at Vadange village in this district, Mr Patil said the Opposition was feeling frustrated over the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP's) growing popularity and, hence, was making baseless allegations.

Reacting to the Opposition's demand for his resignation, Mr Patil said he did not consider it worthwhile to take cognisance of the demand. The inquiry instituted into the matter will reveal the truth, he added.

Mr Patil stressed the NCP had not threatened any candidate in the Tasgaon taluka. The Shiv Sena-BJP combine candidate had lost the deposit in the last State Assembly election from the Tasgaon constituency and had been unable to find suitable candidates for the present elections because of which they were making such baseless allegations, he said.

Mr Patil also took a dig at the Congress, saying the party was unhappy with the NCP's popularity and, therefore, was targetting the home portfolio which he holds.

UNI