From BRS To BJP: BB Patil Aims For A Third Term In Zahirabad (image-X/MPBBPATIL)Bheemarao Basawanthrao Patil, popularly known as B. B. Patil, recently made headlines with his switch from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Patil, who formerly represented Zahirabad, Telangana in the Lok Sabha on BRS ticket, joined BJP, citing a commitment to development in his constituency.
Patil’s political trajectory saw him elected twice from Zahirabad under the BRS banner. However, following BRS’s defeat in the 2023 assembly elections, Patil decided to part ways with the party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He officially joined BJP on March 1, in a ceremony attended by Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and party in-charge of Telangana affairs Tarun Chugh in New Delhi.
Zahirabad Lok Sabha constituency, which comprises legislative assembly segments such as Jukkal, Banswada, Yellareddy, Kamareddy, Narayankhed, Andole (SC reserved) and Zahirabad (SC reserved), was established in 2008.
In 2009 general elections, Congress candidate Suresh Kumar Shetkar won the seat by securing 38.9 percent votes. However, things changed in the favour of BRS after BB Patil represented the party in the 2014 general elections, securing 46.46 percent votes, beating Shetkar. Patil repeated his victory in the 2019 elections as well with 41.58 percent votes.
Patil’s decision to contest again from the constituency, this time under the BJP banner, has sparked protests among BJP candidates, who criticized Patil of working against BJP candidates during the recent assembly elections as a BRS MP.
However, Patil remains optimistic. In his statement to the media, he praised the Modi government’s initiatives including the construction of the Ram temple, the repeal of Article 370, ban on triple talaq, and the distribution of free Covid vaccines. He said, “For the development of my parliamentary constituency and Telangana, there is no other option than taking this step. We need funds and work from the Centre. Definitely we got a lot of help from the Modi government,” as quoted in an NDTV report.
He graduated from Marathawada Krishi Vidyapeeth with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in the year 1976.