KOTHRUD, MAHARASHTRA – November 23, 2024 – Maharashtra Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Chandrakant Patil, is enjoying a commanding lead in the Kothrud assembly constituency in the ongoing state elections, early trends indicate. This strong performance for the Mahayuti coalition has emboldened Patil to extend a hand to former ally Uddhav Thackeray, suggesting a potential realignment of Maharashtra’s political landscape.
In an interview with ABP Majha, Patil stated, "If Uddhav Thackeray comes to us, he is welcome." He attributed his success in Kothrud to a predicted wave of support for the Mahayuti, and linked this to the potential return of Thackeray. "In 2019, Uddhav Thackeray's decision to oppose us harmed not just Maharashtra, but me personally," Patil acknowledged. "However, the final decision on his potential return rests with the high command in Delhi." The 2019 elections saw the BJP and Shiv Sena win a resounding majority, but a power struggle over the Chief Minister’s position led to a bitter split, with the Shiv Sena subsequently joining the Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition.
Patil's conciliatory statement hints at a possible reconciliation and could significantly reshape the state's political dynamics, potentially strengthening the Mahayuti’s position even further. The possibility of a unified Shiv Sena once again aligning with the BJP is a development that will be closely watched in the coming days as the election results unfold.
