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Patrick Brown applied Friday to run for the Ontario Conservative leadership he quit just three weeks ago, adding an almost surreal twist to a wild week of developments – and leaving his party in turmoil as it readies for the June 7 election.

Confirming hours of feverish speculation and rumour, Brown appeared at Tory headquarters Friday afternoon to file his entry papers, just two hours before the 5 p.m. deadline.

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He had resigned last month after two women accused him of sexual misconduct while he was a federal MP, the leadership race called to replace him.

On Friday morning, the member from Barrie, Ont., was even thrown out of the PC caucus by its interim leader, Vic Fedeli.

As he left party offices in downtown Toronto, Brown suggested that the support he’s received from members of provincial parliament, Tory candidates and volunteers prompted him to run.

“I think my name has been cleared, and now it’s about getting Ontario back on track,” he told reporters. “This is not what I was thinking about, but the support of the party membership has really inspired me … The party membership wants their party back. The party membership doesn’t want to see anything hijacked.”