Nana Patole: Congress Firebrand To Contest From Sakoli (image: x.com/NANA_PATOLE)

Nana Falgunrao Patole, popularly known as Nanabhau took over the Maharashtra Congress President in February 2021. He played a crucial role in leading the party to win the recent Lok Sabha elections. Besides state unit chief, he has also held important positions such President of the Indian Kisan Congress, and Speaker in the Legislative Assembly. In the upcoming Assembly polls, Patole is contesting from Sakoli Assembly segment.

Patole is known for his assertive leadership style, determined approach and unwavering stance in positioning his party in discussion with the alliances. He remains as a controversial figure in Maharashtra politics due to his bluntness, impulsive decision-making, and not mincing words when it comes to presenting his arguments, challenging allies, and securing Congress‘s position. Recently, there were reports on drift between Patole and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, two alliance party members in Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) – over some delay in seat-sharing announcements. But on Monday, October 28 Congress chief dismissed the rumours and said that he was “friends” with Raut.

Also Read | Mahayuti Pushed Corporate Cronies’ Interests: Jairam Ramesh

Patole hails from the farming Kunbi community at Sukli village in Sakoli. He made his electoral debut in 1990 with his win from the Zilla Parishad polls. He got greater recognition when he got elected as the Lakhandur MLA in 1999 on Congress ticket; he retained the position in 2004 assembly election as well.

However, in 2009 Patole quitted Congress by stating that the party was not doing enough for the farmers. He contested as an Independent candidate for Bhandara–Gondiya Lok Sabha seat in the same year and lost. He then joined the BJP and contested the election from Sakoli assembly constituency six months later and won. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he contested from the Bhandara–Gondiya constituency again and won the seat by defeating former Union Minister Praful Patel with a margin of 1,49,254 votes.

Also Read | Siddharth Shirole Eyeing Second Win From Shivajinagar

In 2017, he resigned from the BJP and Lok Sabha expressing discontent over ‘anti-farmer’ policies of the BJP and PM Narendra Modi and rejoined Congress. Though he unsuccessfully contested from Nagpur in the 2019 against Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, he won the Assembly election from Sakoli constituency. Patole won the seat by defeating BJP’s Dr Parinay Ramesh Fuke by a margin of 6240 votes.

Known as party’s OBC Face, Patole is a staunch advocate for OBC’s rights. He maintains good relationship with Rahul Gandhi and enjoys proximity to the Congress high command which aids him in his aggressive stance and confrontational approach as a party leader.