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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”.

Papa’s Pari in Fray

Papa’s Pari in Fray

Former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan’s daughter Shreejaya is all set to contest the upcoming Assembly election from Bhokar constituency of Nanded district on a BJP ticket. Now it needs to be seen whether she takes ahead the legacy of her grandfather.


Born in 1992, Shreejaya is a lawyer by profession. She has been helping her father in managing his political office for quite some time now. She came to limelight when she walked a substantially good distance with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during Bharat Jodo Yatra.


She was behind the show of strength that her father displayed during the Yatra a couple of years back before joining the BJP. It was a social media post by her father that is considered to have brought her forth as his probable political successor back then. With announcement of her candidature today the speculations have gained momentum.


Born and brought up in the family of Union ministers and Chief Ministers, Shreejaya never had a groups of friends like other kids of her age would have. She misses the thing even today. However, she learnt to fill the gap by making friends with technology and animals at a very young age. Though she is a lawyer by education she has a good sense of technology and several ideas about how it can be engaged for the betterment of the people and to communicate with the people.


It was this friendship of her with the technology that led her to launch ‘Ashok Chavan Seva Setu’, a telephone-based platform to resolve issues concerning people for which they often run to the politician. She conceived the idea and launched the service while her father was the guardian minister of the Nanded district. Her tech-savvy-ness was also instrumental in starting the Namaste Nanded digital platform which has over 1,25,000 followers on Instagram from her home district.


Though her schooling and college education happened primarily in Mumbai, she never lost her touch with Nanded. In fact, she has systematically nurtured the connect over past few years by taking interest in management of the Kusum Mahotsav and the Sangeet Shankar Darbar – the two festivals started by her family in memory her of her grandparents. While the musical program in memory of late Shankarrao Chavan attracts the ace talent in the field of music every year, the festival in memory of Shreejaya’s grandmother Kusumtai is dedicated to women’s empowerment and attracts a host of women’s self-help groups from the region.


Shreejaya has seen sharp twists and turns of the politics at a very early stage in her life and it is said that it was she who encouraged her father to stand up again and fight after his defeat in 2019 election.

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