Gujarat NCP president Jayant Patel may join BJP before polls

The NCP president of Gujarat and MLA from Umreth, Jayant Patel alias Boskey, is likely to join the BJP before polls. Boskey is in touch with BJP leaders of Gujarat and can bid adieu to NCP anytime. In fact, the strain in relations between Boskey and NCP leader Praful Patel is responsible for Boskey's resentment.

Boskey had voted for Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha polls held in August for three seats from Gujarat. Though he said that his vote went to Congress candidate Ahmed Patel, the final counting of votes made it clear that Boskey's vote had gone to Shah.

A senior leader of BJP in from central Gujarat said, "Boskey was in touch with the BJP high command even before the Rajya Sabha polls. He had shown his wish to join BJP. Our doors are open to anyone. He is not happy with the way Praful Patel has been handling the organisation in Gujarat. Both leaders have an ego clash."

However, the BJP is not in a mood to make any promise to Boskey if he joins the party. "If he wishes to join BJP without setting any prior condition, he is welcomed but should not put any demand for that. Party may think or may not think to offer him ticket from Umreth."

A BJP leader who has demanded a ticket from Umreth said on condition of anonymity, "It would not be wise to give a ticket to Boskey from BJP. This would in fact play spoilsport as Boskey's image is spoilt among local voters because of his anti-social activities. He could help the party by contesting polls as independent candidate so that he could polarise votes of Congress voters."

Jayant Patel could not be reached for his reaction.