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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”.

Playing Third Innings

Shiv Sena under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has fielded former MP, former Editor Sanjay Nirupam from Dindoshi assembly constituency. A seasoned journalist, he had begun his political journey as a strong voice and a North Indian face for Shiv Sena about three decades ago. It appears as if he has been entrusted with the same task yet again.


Born on February 6, 1965, in Rohtas, Bihar, Nirupam began his career in journalism in 1986 and used to edit Sabrang, a weekly magazine of the Express group. The Shiv Sena felt a need to spread among Hindi population of the city during Ayodhya agitation and the party came up with an idea of Hindi version of its Marathai mouthpiece Saamana. Nirupam was chosen as the editor of the magazine, but was entrusted with responsibilities in the party far beyond the scope of an editor.


He was asked not only to build support for Shiv Sena among the north Indian residents of Mumbai but also to establish organizational networks in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. He initiated a weekly feature in the tabloid titled “Khula Manch,” where Bal Thackeray answered questions from Hindi-speaking readers. Through his answers, Thackeray conveyed that Shiv Sena was not just a party of Maharashtrians but of all Hindus, irrespective of their language. Nirupam was made the “Sampark Pramukh” (Contact Chief) of Shiv Sena for the north Indian states. In 1996, Nirupam organized the “Uttar Bharteeya Mahasammelan,” a gathering of north Indians addressed by Bal Thackeray. With his sharp and aggressive editorials and political acumen, Nirupam proved himself to be the person Shiv Sena was looking for.


As a politician, Nirupam’s career skyrocketed within the Shiv Sena. His nomination for the Rajya Sabha shocked everyone in the political corridors. Even Sanjay Raut, who had joined eight months earlier in July 1992, was not considered for the Rajya Sabha. As a parliamentarian, Nirupam aggressively represented his party and even stirred controversy within the BJP, Shiv Sena’s alliance partner, by making several allegations against Pramod Mahajan and criticizing him in the Hindi Saamna. Nirupam had the tacit support of Bal Thackeray, who pretended to reprimand him in front of Mahajan when he rushed to Matosri lamenting about Nirupam. Thackeray appointed him as one of the “Upnetas,” the top strata of the party after the supremo.


However, with the meteoric rise within Shiv Sena, Nirupam had made several enemies for himself within the party and he had to quit the party. He then joined the Congress and was elected to the Lok Sabha, representing the Mumbai North constituency from 2009 to 2014. However, his prime role – to gather the North Indians in Mumbai around the party - didn’t change.

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