Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil: Shaping Maharashtra's Political Landscape (image:x.com/RVikhePatil)

The Vikhe-Patils are one of the influential political families in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar). In the Assembly polls, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, a seven-time MLA from Shirdi and Revenue Minister in the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government is seeking his eighth term from the constituency.

Currently belongs to BJP, Vikhe-Patil had associated with Shiv Sena and Congress at different points of time. He has been part of Maharashtra legislative assembly since 1995.

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Being associated with six different Chief Ministers, Vikhe-Patil has held over a dozen ministerial portfolios including Housing, Agriculture, Food & Drug Administration, Transport, Ports, Law & Judiciary, School Education, and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship in his career. While in Congress, he has also served as the Leader of Opposition in the Devendra Fadnavis government from 2014 to 2019.

Vikhe Patil is the son of veteran Maharashtra and former Union Minister Balasaheb Vikhe Patil. His grandfather Vithalrao Vikhe Patil, a legendary figure began Asia’s first co-operative sugar factory in Ahmednagar’s Pravaranagar.

The decades-old fight between Vikhe Patil and Sharad Pawar clan is well-known and have been continuing for generations. In the past, Balasaheb Vikhe Patil and Sharad Pawar were in fight over controlling co-operative sugar factories in the region. Besides, in 1991, the then Congress leader Sharad Pawar refused to give Ahmednagar ticket to Balasaheb. Similarly, ahead of 2019 polls, Radhakrishna then belonged to the Congress fought for his son Sunjay’s nomination from Ahmednagar. But Pawar refused to leave the constituency to the Congress from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and fielded Sangram Arun Jagtap.

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Thus, dismantling decades-long association with the Congress, Vikhe Patil along with his son, Sujay and many other Congress leaders joined the BJP in 2019. The move by the Vikhe Patil clan was viewed as strategic so as to expand their influence in the state by associating with the ruling party . Patil is known for his practical approach to governance and for his deeper awareness and knowledge about Maharashtra’s rural economy. As continues to play significant role in formulating and shaping the state’s political landscape, his contest in election is important.