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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”.

Unguided Missile

Updated: Nov 15, 2024

Vijay Wadettiwa

Vijay Wadettiwar is the leader of opposition in the outgoing Maharashtra Leagislative Assembly. He is extremely aggressive in the house when he exposes the treasury benches and tears apart their arguments. However, he is equally calm and very balanced whenever he meets party workers and guides them to help them resolve various issues that they bring to him. This way he makes a very good mix of leadership qualities that the party like Congress needs today.


Born in 1962 at a small village named Karaji in Gondpimpri taluka of Chandrapur district, Wadettiwar ventured into politics as a student leaders who led several of the students’ agitations in early 80’s.

His natural choice even in those days was the NSUI. However, as he advanced into the politics after completing college, he joined the Shiv Sena. His aggressive nature suited the Shiv Sena style of politics and he made good progress within the party at an early age.


He was nominated to the Zilla Parishad (ZP) by the party in 1991 and in 1995 when the party came to power in the state for the first time he was entrusted with the responsibility as chairperson of the forest development corporation. The post had the status of minister of state.


Wadettiwar was sent to the legislative council by the party in 1998. And he contested assembly election for the first time from Chimur constituency of Chandrapur district in 2004.


He was among the 11 MLAs who left Shiv Sena along with former CM Narayan Rane in 2005 to join the Congress. In 2008 he was entrusted with the responsibilities of the environment, forests, tribal welfare and water resources as the minister of state. Within a year the government had to face elections and Wadettiwar returned to assembly with and enhanced support. Between 2009 and 2014 he was minister of state for water resources, energy, finance and planning and parliamentary affairs. In 2014 when the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance came to power in the state he was made deputy leader of the house by the Congress party and after the then leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil joined the BJP, Wadettiwar became the leader of opposition in the state assembly.


Meanwhile, Narayan Rane, along with whom Wadettiwar had joined the Congress, quit the party to join BJP. However, Wadettiwar remained with the Congress and became the disaster management minister Under Uddhav Thackeray in 2019. After the government collapsed in 2022 he became the leader of opposition yet again.


Wadettiwar is outspoken in his nature and gets involved in one or the other controversy all the time. However, this makes him a polarizing figure in Maharashtra politics.

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