Satej Patil says he never promised niece Smita Jadhav help in Pune graduates' poll

There is talk in political circles that the BJP settled scores in the election for the Gokul chairman's post because Satej Patil went back on a promise to help BJP candidate Smita Jadhav in the Pune graduates' constituency election. Patil has now broken his silence on the matter. Smita Jadhav is his niece.

Patil said clearly that he had held no discussion with the BJP on the Pune graduates' election. According to him, he had also given no assurance to his niece Smita Jadhav. He was speaking on Thursday at an interview programme.

At the programme, editor Sarita Kaushik asked him whether there was any link between the Pune graduates' election and the election for the Gokul chairman's post. She said the reason the BJP was going to such lengths over the election of a district milk cooperative was reportedly rooted in the Pune graduates' election. She also asked whether there was any truth in the claim that his niece Smita Jadhav had contested on the BJP's behalf, that he had promised help but did not deliver, and that the BJP, angered by this, took revenge in the Gokul election.

In reply, Patil explained his position at length. He said, "Those to whom I gave a promise should come forward and say that I gave a promise." He said that when he got the nomination form filled for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidate Harshada Jadhav, he had made it clear that Smita Jadhav should be made an MLA from the Governor's quota. He said Smita Jadhav is the daughter-in-law of the Pudhari family and the granddaughter of D. Y. Patil. If the BJP had such a wish and concern to uphold her honour, he said, she should be made an MLA from the Governor's quota.

Patil said, "I had told them then that whatever I do, I do openly. It is not in my nature to say one thing inside and do another outside." He said he had told his niece that he was in a bind and would not be able to help her in this. So, he said, any allegation being made now has no meaning.

He also said that he, his workers and corporators were working for Harshada Jadhav. According to him, the question of the BJP asking him for help in the Pune graduates' election did not arise. It was his niece who had asked for help, and he said it was no fault of hers. Patil said there is nothing wrong in a candidate asking for help.