Gulabrao Patil says he does not trust predictions of political upheaval after Manoj Jarange audio clip

Discussion in state politics has intensified after an audio clip of Manoj Jarange Patil went viral. Mahayuti allies, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and the BJP, have begun making moves against each other. BJP leader and minister Ganesh Naik had said earlier that there would be a major political upheaval in the state. Minister Gulabrao Patil responded to that statement.

Gulabrao Patil said clearly that he does not believe in predictions about political change. He said an upheaval does not need an earthquake. He does not accept that political change comes about because of anyone's prediction, he said. According to him, such changes happen only when everyone takes a collective decision together.

Congress leader Nana Patole has alleged that in the 2024 Assembly election, a conspiracy was hatched to keep the Maha Vikas Aghadi out of power by increasing voting after 5 pm. Gulabrao Patil questioned this allegation. He asked how Patole thought of the issue only three years later. According to Patil, Patole should have spoken about it at that time. He also said this was a restlessness to bring up new issues.

Patil was also asked about talk of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party coming together. He said it is an internal matter involving Sunetra Pawar and Sharad Pawar. It would not be right to comment on what decision their party takes. He also said he has no information about the discussions going on over the finance department.

On Nilesh Patil, former contact chief of the Shiv Sena, joining the Nationalist Congress Party, Gulabrao Patil said he has gone to an allied party and will campaign for the Mahayuti only. He also said Mahayuti leaders will sit together and decide the seat-sharing for the Jalgaon district bank election.

Villagers are opposing the Torrent project on the Karjat-Bhimashankar belt. On this issue, Patil said both the environment and development are necessary. Trees must be saved and development projects must also be taken up. He said the government will try to find a middle path between the two.