The surprise face among the 8 NCP MLAs with Ajit Pawar: Dilip Walse-Patil

The six-time Ambegaon MLA was once Sharad Pawar's personal secretary, and was his Man Friday since NCP formation. He is also untainted by any Central agency probes or raids, making his defection all the more a shock

In 2019, after the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was formed, Dilip Walse-Patil was given the portfolios of the Excise and Labour departments. (PTI)

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MANY close Sharad Pawar aides are among the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders who have aligned with Ajit Pawar, and been sworn in as ministers along with him. But the one whose defection would have hurt the NCP chief the most is Dilip Walse-Patil, who had started his political career as the Maratha strongman’s Man Friday.

The 65-year-old Walse-Patil, son of late Congress MLA Dattatray Walse-Patil, chose an unconventional route to a political career. After completing his law studies with a postgraduate degree from Mumbai’s Government Law College, Patil kept away from electoral politics and instead chose to work as Pawar’s personal secretary, likely on the advice of his father.

In this role, Walse-Patil cultivated a backroom persona with a silent presence, with Pawar Senior as his mentor. After years of working with Pawar, he finally contested elections in 1990 from the Ambegaon Assembly seat in Pune district, and won. Walse-Patil is now a six-term MLA, having retained the constituency without a break.

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In 1999, when Pawar parted ways with the Congress to form the NCP, Walse-Patil was in the core team and part of all the decision-making and execution in the party. In the NCP governments that came to power subsequently, he was entrusted with Finance, Energy, and Medical and Higher Education portfolios.

In what was seen as a setback to his political career, the NCP high command in 2009 made him the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly — which he remained till 2014 — instead of a Cabinet minister. The decision was a shock to many, as the Speaker is often seen as a retired politician. But Walse-Patil accepted the job and earned the tag of a “strict headmaster”. He focused on maintaining decorum of the legislature and encouraged first-term members to participate actively, by giving them opportunities to speak on the floor of the House.

In 2019, after the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was formed, he was given the portfolios of the Excise and Labour departments. Eventually, Pawar reposed faith in him by handing over the important Home Ministry, after his predecessor Anil Deshmukh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. Interestingly, it was during the time when Maharashtra Police reported to him as the Home Minister that Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde launched their coup under the noses of the establishment that deposed the MVA government.

Walse-Patil has remained untainted so far, with the BJP not gunning after him, as evidenced by the absence of ED or Income Tax department raids on him. His decision to break away from his mentor was, therefore, a big surprise for everyone.

Zeeshan Shaikh

Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports. Expertise Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas: Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai. Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC). Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai). Trustworthiness & Credibility Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence. Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers). Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports. He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More