"Baseless stories are being spread about me. I am not going to join the Congress party even if they offer me the post of chief minister. There is no question of quitting the BJP ahead of 2014 assembly and Lok Sabha elections," said Munde speaking to media in Nanded.
He added that rumors of his joining the Congress to replace late Vilasrao Deshmukh were baseless.
"Even when Vilasrao was alive such stories were spread. Vilasrao and I were friends since college days and we shared cordial friendship. However we never imposed political ideology on each other. I am with the BJP and will remain with the party" said Munde.
Political circles are abuzz with the stories that party high command was looking for a leader of Deshmukh's stature who has a strong mass base.
The state unit of the Congress has suffered a major loss because of the death of union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.
For decades Deshmukh strongly led the state Congress and gave a tough fight to Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar who was trying to weaken the Congress in the state. Deshmukh's death has created a void in state Congress leadership and political observers say that the party will find it difficult to replace the late leader.
Interestingly the anti Munde faction led by BJP national president Nitin Gadkari has also refuted that Munde was likely to join the Congress. Staunch Gadkari supporter and Munde's detractor MLC Vinod Tawade said that Munde was "chief ministerial" candidate for the BJP.
"Munde is frontrunner for the post of state chief minister in 2014 election. There are chances that BJP- Shiv Sena will topple NCP - Congress government and regain power in Maharashtra. Munde is the only leader who could bring BJP, Shiv Sena and MNS together. This alliance will be a formidable force in the elections" said Tawade speaking to reporters.
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