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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”.

Litmus Test for Women’s Voice

Shaina NC, the candidate from Mumbadevi assembly constituency for the Shiv Sena under CM Eknath Shinde has filed a complaint with the police against Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant on Friday for his derogatory remarks against her depicting women as a commodity. She had been raising voice for women’s rights and had been vocal for increasing women’s participation in male dominated active politics.

Shaina comes from a prominent family. Her father, Nana Chudasama, was a well-known businessman and former Sheriff of Mumbai. He was also known as a philanthropist and was famous for his witty one-liners on current affairs. Shaina, a fashion designer by profession, has inherited most of his qualities that has kept her afloat in the politics for around two decades.


Shaina ventured into politics for the first time in 2004, by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She contested the assembly elections that year unsuccessfully and was given the responsibility of the then newly formed Health and Cultural Cell in the state party unit. In 2007 she was given the responsibility as party spokesperson in its Mumbai unit. The next year she was elevated as the state spokesperson. Contrary to expectations, he wasn’t given the ticket in 2009 assembly elections or any other elections though she expressed her desire to contest the elections several times at various levels.


However, she remained the party’s primary connect to the world of celebrities from Bollywood, the fashion world and even from the industry. He photographs were prominently displayed a few years back with industrialist Ratan Tata when he visited Hedgewar Smriti Bhavan at Nagpur a few years back. It was due to such strong contacts that she was elevated to national executive council of the party in 2010 and eventually became the national spokesperson of the party in 2013. Since 2014 she has been the treasurer of the BJP’s Maharashtra unit. Recently, she joined Shiv Sena in order to contest against Congress MLA Amin Patel from the Mumbadevi constituency.


Born on December 1, 1972, in Mumbai, Shaina completed her schooling at Queen Mary School and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the St. Xavier’s College. She also holds a diploma in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. She holds a Guinness World Record for draping a saree in 54 different ways fetching her the title “Queen of Drapes”.


In this journey of over two decades, Shaina has covered a large ideological spectrum. Once a very vocal critic of the handling of situation post Godhra riots, she now advocates aggressive Hindutva. Voicing of concern for women’s rights, however, has not changed.

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