Maharashtra Congress tussle out in open: Balasaheb Thorat resigns as legislature party head

Balasaheb Thorat resigned as Maharashtra Congress legislature party leader on Tuesday, a day after he wrote to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge that he was unable to work with state unit chief Nana Patole,a report mentioned.

Thorat sent his resignation letter on February 2, sources close to him said, adding that it was still difficult to work with Nana Patole. Despite being a senior leader, statements were made against him and his family and some people tried to tarnish the image of Balasaheb Thorat and his family, sources said.

Nana Patole replied that he had never indulged in "such dirty politics". He had also previously denied that such a letter had been written, adding that he would only be able to comment if he knew the contents of the letter. Thorat, a former state unit chief and minister, also said in his letter to Mallikarjun Kharge that he is not consulted before taking a decision.

Thorat is a Congress stalwart and has previously served as the party's state president, besides holding a number of key ministerial portfolios. This comes days after Nashik constituency MLC Sudhir Tambe, who is Balasaheb Thorat's brother-in-law, refused to contest the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections despite being the official Congress candidate. He got his son Satyajit Tambe to contest as an independent who won the poll. The results were announced on February 2.