Mahayuti fields Rajesh Patil for Gokul chairman post; Shashikant Chuyekar is rival candidate

The election for the chairman's post of the Gokul milk union is the talk of Kolhapur politics these days. The Mahayuti has made Rajesh Patil, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and a former MLA, its candidate for the post. Against him, the like-minded alliance of Satej Patil has fielded Shashikant Patil Chuyekar. The whole district is watching the contest.

A meeting is to be held near Gokul Chowk in the presence of the Mahayuti's top leaders. After that, the name of Gokul's new chairman is expected to emerge at around 2 pm.

Rajesh Narsingrao Patil is a former NCP MLA who has represented the Chandgad assembly constituency. He is known as a trusted associate of NCP leader Hasan Mushrif and the late Ajit Pawar. He comes from a family with a political background. His father, Narsing Gurunath Patil, was also an MLA.

Rajesh Patil was elected MLA from Chandgad in the 2019 assembly election. In the 2024 election, however, he was defeated by Shivaji Patil, a rebel BJP candidate. The defeat was seen as a major setback for the NCP as well.

One notable aspect of his political career is that he had resolved not to tie a turban on his head until Ajit Pawar became chief minister. The decision showed his loyalty to Ajitdada. After Rajesh Patil's defeat in 2024, it was said that Ajit Pawar too did not wear a turban during his Kolhapur visit.

In the last Gokul election, Rajesh Patil's wife and Sanjay Mandlik's son were defeated. The Mandlik camp subsequently criticised Hasan Mushrif. Now that Rajesh Patil has got the chance at the Gokul chairman's post from the Mushrif camp itself, the old political differences appear to be papered over.

People in Kolhapur are now watching whether Rajesh Patil wins or Shashikant Chuyekar turns the tables.