From Our Special Correspondent
Daiiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 13: Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil has predicted that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will lose power and the Sharad Pawar-Uddhav Thackeray led Maha Vikas Aghadi will form government in Maharashtra.

Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru on Monday, he said Shinde should first read the Constitution and understand the provisions of Anti-Defection Law.

“Eknath Shinde should understand that Congress party in Karnataka has a strength of 136 MLAs. Even assuming the claims of a split as said by Shinde, a minimum 89 Congress MLAs should switch sides if they have to escape from the anti-defection law and avoid being disqualified,” he said, adding that Congress MLAs are not fools to join BJP, which is a sinking ship.

On the contrary, Patil claimed that 20 BJP and JDS MLAs are going to join Congress after the Lok Sabha polls as they are in touch with the Congress leaders.

He said: “Shinde should first understand that Karnataka is not Maharashra and the vertical splits in Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar-led NCP will not happen.”

“If Eknath Shinde has the strength and capacity, let him lure at least 5 Congress MLAs in Karnataka,” Patil said.

He claimed that the Maharashtra leader is trying to get political mileage by making tall claims and thinks that BJP’s Operation Kamala will work. BJP is losing power and Narendra Modi-led NDA will be defeated, Patil added.