Former Maharashtra Minister Vinayakrao Patil quits NCP (SP), joins Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena

Vinayakrao Patil with Eknath Shinde and other leaders at a ceremony on Monday. Pic/Eknath Shinde`s office

Former Maharashtra Minister and Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) leader Vinayakrao Patil has quit the party and joined the ruling Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Vinayakrao Patil, along with former Shiv Sena (UBT) Latur district chief Santosh Somvanshi, was formally inducted into the party at a ceremony held in Thane on Monday, an official statement issued by Shinde's office stated.

Welcoming the new entrants, Shinde said the party's expansion from Buldhana to Nanded reflects growing public trust in the government's development agenda. He described Shiv Sena as a "party of workers" where everyone is treated equally, it said.

He added that he continues to work like a grassroots member, maintaining an open-door approach for party workers.

Shiv Sainik in every household

Shinde said the party is guided by the principles of its founder Balasaheb Thackeray and his mentor Anand Dighe.

"Shiv Sena is a party of workers where no one is big or small. Even as a leader, I function as a common worker, maintaining an open-door policy where no appointment is needed to meet me," he said.

The Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister claimed that the Shiv Sena has now become the second-largest political force in the state. He set a target of establishing a "Shiv Sainik in every household" and said around 25,000 more workers are expected to join the party soon, reported the PTI.

Focus on welfare schemes

Shinde also highlighted key welfare initiatives of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, including schemes such as financial assistance for women, farm loan waivers, and free higher education for girls. He accused the Opposition of attempting to block these schemes through legal challenges but asserted that they would continue, the news agency reported.

Patil's political career

Patil was elected as an Independent MLA from Ahmedpur in Latur district in 1999 and 2014. He also served as a Minister of State in the cabinet of former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

He later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before moving to the NCP (SP) in 2023.

In the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Patil contested from Ahmedpur on an NCP (SP) ticket but lost to sitting MLA and Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil.

(with PTI inputs)