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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

MPs rebellion ‘splits’ even some families

Mumbai: Amid the rebellion by 6 Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs, at least two of them have shot into the spotlight, but for entirely different and non-political reasons – Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar (Hingoli) and Sanjay Dina-Patil (Mumbai North-East). Despite their fathers currently in the process of shifting loyalties to the Shiv Sena headed by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, the son and daughter, respectively, of both these MPs have chosen to stay anchored firmly with SS (UBT) President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray....

MPs rebellion ‘splits’ even some families

Mumbai: Amid the rebellion by 6 Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs, at least two of them have shot into the spotlight, but for entirely different and non-political reasons – Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar (Hingoli) and Sanjay Dina-Patil (Mumbai North-East). Despite their fathers currently in the process of shifting loyalties to the Shiv Sena headed by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, the son and daughter, respectively, of both these MPs have chosen to stay anchored firmly with SS (UBT) President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray. They are Krishna Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar and Rajool Sanjay Patil and both are emerging politicians in their own right and with politically bright prospects. Rajool is a SS (UBT) Municipal Corporator from Ward No. 114 (Bhandup) in her father’ constituency, and Krishna is the official Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidate for the Nanded Local Authorities constituency in the Maharashtra Legislature’s upper house. However, the abrupt rebellion by their fathers - along with four other SS (UBT) MPs has raised question marks on their own loyalties and political moorings – with the MLCs election results scheduled on Monday. A Deputy Leader from Pune guardedly said that “the same norms under the anti-defection laws for parliament would apply” at all levels, preventing the duo (Krishna and Rajool) from following in their fathers’ footsteps. “After all, there are many examples where in the same family, different members owe allegiance to different political parties. They may have made their personal political calculations and survival before taking any plunge blindly in the name of ideology,” the leader told ‘The Perfect Voice’, requesting anonymity. A Mumbai leader averred that in case the political sand slips - for whatever reasons - in the ongoing defection drama, at least all in the family may not have to pay the price for a botch-up, as “these youngsters still have a long road ahead in politics”. On June 18, when Ashtikar’s name came among the six potential turncoats, Krishna faced an embarrassing situation as the MLC polling was underway that day. Krishna quickly mouthed bites to proclaim his allegiance to Thackeray and an equally bewildered Rajool - elected as a BMC corporator just six months ago - instantly declared her support to SS (UBT) and even joined a protest against her father’s decision. Both the youngsters confronting a peculiar family-cum-political divide put up brave faces and publicly claimed that they had “absolutely no inkling” of the political coup currently underway and are firmly with Thackeray. For the present, however, the SS (UBT) camp is somewhat relieved that the damage caused by the proposed exit of the 6 MPs has not percolated to their family members, affording it time to take some proactive measures to prevent a similar scenario in the coming times. SS (UBT) Deputy Leader dares MP’s son A skeptical SS (UBT) Deputy Leader Sushma Andhare and others immediately pounced on Krishna Ashtikar, questioning the credibility of his words after his father and party MP from Hingoli Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar’s plans to switch sides. “Go and perform your father’s funeral rituals (pind-daan) immediately to prove your claims that you are different from your father…” a livid Andhare dared Krishna, who retorted by saying that he is “answerable only to the SS (UBT) supremo and none else”.

Is Ajit unconquerable?

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

Ajit

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is currently receiving criticism from all the sides. His trusted associates across Maharashtra have been leaving him to join his uncle, while he had been receiving criticism from leaders in the Mahayuti coalition. The RSS cadres too had not hidden their discomfort with him. On this backdrop, it will be interesting to see whether he is able to prove his mantle and emerge unconquerable as his name suggests.


Former minister and BJP leader from Solapur Lakshman Dhoble left the party on Friday to join the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) under Sharad Pawar. While leaving the BJP he blamed Ajit Pawar for the troubles he had been creating. In Aurangabad, the party had to expel MLC Satish Chavan for anti-party activists. News stories regarding some or the other leader in his home district Pune leaving his side and joining his uncle’s party have become a daily routine over past month or so. Yet, ‘Dada’ (elder brother) as he is often referred to as by his followers, is undeterred and following the path he had chosen for himself over a year ago.

“All those leaving me are doing so because they know that they won’t get to contest from our party. They stand a better chance on the other side because there they have a vacuum of over 40 seats since we left them,” he says convincingly when asked about those leaving him. On rest of the criticism, he is sure that his unwavering dedication to work shall shut the mouths of all his critics.


He had to keep low due to bad performance in the Lok Sabha election. After the elections he was openly criticized even by an ally and fellow deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis who attributed the alliance’s poor performance to the NCP’s “inability” to convert support into votes for its allies. The issue is one fourth of the undivided NCP’s votes came from the minorities, which did not go the Mahayuti candidates during Lok Sabha polls.


But, this shortcoming is likely to be the best tool for him in the assembly election, as he is being perceived as the only Mahayuti leader who has an ability to attract Muslim votes. He is even nurturing his image accordingly and openly saying in advertisements that he hasn’t shed his ‘secular’ ideology even though he has joined the BJP for its development agenda.


Ajit Pawar is restless and ambitious. At a recent program, he spoke out his desire to become Chief Minister openly. He also nurtures a deep sense of resentment within, for not getting a chance to become the Chief Minister of the state in spite of swearing in for five times as Deputy Chief Minister in span of past two decades. His current politics, since past year and a half, when he broke away from his uncle Sharad Pawar, has been driven by this deep resentment.

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