Former wrestler Chandrahar Patil joins Sena; Shinde mocks Uddhav with wolf-tiger jibe

Patil, who was defeated by Congress rebel Vishal Patil, said he had to fight alone as the Maha Vikas Aghadi and Mahayuti opposed him.

Mumbai: The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena had taken an important step in Western Maharashtra politics by inducting wrestler-turned-politician Chandrahar Patil who is expected to play a key role in the political akhada of Sangli.

In Maharashtra, wrestling is closely connected to politics.

In fact, elections to wrestling bodies are keenly-contested - and perhaps Shinde is aiming to play a key role in the days to come.

In Western Maharashtra districts of Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara - 'talims' (wrestling areas) are something common.

A few days ago, Chandrahar Patil had left the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), with which he was associated during the 2024 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls.

Patil joined the Shiv Sena, in presence of Shinde, the Deputy Chief Minister, on Monday evening, in Thane. He had won the 'Maharashtra Kesari' title in 2007 and 2008 - and is highly respected in wrestling circles.

The induction event was attended by Minister Uday Samant, MLA Suhas Babar, Shiv Sena Secretary Ram Repale, and actor-turned-politician Dipali Sayyed.

"I am the son of a farmer who rose from the ranks to become Chief Minister. But some people still cannot digest it. A wolf cannot become a tiger by merely wearing its skin," Shinde said in a jibe at Thackeray.

“This Shiv Sena belongs to the Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray not to those who rule from ivory towers,” said Shinde, a key leader of ruling MahaYuti.

Referring to the toppling of Maha Vikas Aghadi government, he said: “Though I am not a wrestler, in 2022, I tackled my opponents with such precision that they haven’t recovered since. Wrestlers understand strategy well—and political strength is vital to support wrestling. Uday Samant himself has witnessed Patil’s prowess in the arena.”

“It is Shiv Sena’s duty to fulfil your mission. We aim to connect every wrestling ground in Maharashtra. I too am a farmer’s son who rose from a 'shakha pramukh' to become the Chief Minister. But there are some who still can’t digest that,” he said.

Chandrahar Patil entered the Shiv Sena (UBT) ahead of Lok Sabha polls because of the efforts of Thackeray’s Man Friday Sanjay Raut.

In fact, the Sangli Lok Sabha seat became a friction point between Thackeray and Congress and fielded Chandrahar Patil even while talks were underway. The Congress candidate Pratik Patil turned rebel, contested as an Independent and won the elections defeating two-time sitting BJP MP Sanjaykaka Patil and Chandrahar Patil.

Later, he extended support to Congress. Vishal Patil is the grandson of legendary Congressman and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vasantdada Patil, the son of five-time MP Prakashbapu Patil and brother of former MP and central minister Pratik Patil.

Raut, however, slammed Chandrahar Patil. "We put a lot at stake when he made him contest the polls from Sangli...what he has done is nothing but 'baimani'," he said.