Padamsinh out on bail, party in a spot

MUMBAI: The release of Padamsinh Patil, jailed for his alleged involvement in the 2006 murder of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar, ahead of the elections has put the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in a fix. His son, a minister in the Ashok Chavan government, is an NCP candidate in Osmanabad in Marathwada.

Mr Patil���s arrest months before the Assembly polls came as a big embarrassment to his party, which is a constituent of the ruling UPA at the Centre.

Even as supporters of the suspended NCP leader were celebrating his release on bail on Friday, the party was seen looking for cover. ���The court order has come as big relief, ahead of the October 13 Assembly election where his son Rana Jagjitsinh is contesting from Osmanabad district. We are celebrating,��� a Patil supporter from Marathwada said.

However, NCP leaders declined to comment on the development. The party spokesperson, Madan Bafna, offered no reaction. ���We will comment only after the court���s final order,��� was his cryptic reply. Rana Jagjitsinh, currently a member of the legislative council, has been named by the NCP as a nominee for the assembly election.

Jagjitsingh was elected from Osmanabad in the Lok Sabha election. The CBI, in its 5,000-page chargesheet, has named Mr Patil as the prime accused in the conspiracy to murder Nimbalkar due to political and business rivalry.