This BJP leader hints at Vinod Tawde's potential as next party president

KOLHAPUR: Senior BJP functionary Chandrakant Patil on Tuesday said Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray can correct his course after looking at the results of the recent Lok Sabha elections where the latter’s party came down from 18 seats in 2019 to nine in 2024.
Speaking in Kolhapur, Patil, who is also the state minister of higher and technical education, praised Uddhav Thackeray, claiming he was the one who worked hard despite the ailments he is suffering from.
“He (Uddhav Thackeray) could win only on nine of 23 seats. When Shiv Sena and BJP contested together, Sena fought on 23 seats and won on 18. I think that Uddhav made more effort than anyone else. In 2019, if the alliance had continued, then Congress and NCP (SCP) would have been defeated. Buy they got 13 and eight seats respectively,” said Patil.
He added the Sena (UBT) president should introspect on what has he achieved. “On one hand, he now has a blot that he has won on the votes of the minority. His MPs have come down from 18 to 9. One thing is for sure: Congress and NCP (SCP) got huge benefits from the alliance. Uddhav can analyse,” he said.
Patil also exuded confidence in Narendra Modi-led NDA govt completing five years. “The opposition’s wish will never be fulfilled. They said the same thing about the Eknath Shinde-led state govt. PM Modi is a confident leader. He got fewer seats this time and the entire world grieved. However, he will run the govt for full five years,” Patil said.
On being asked about RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s views on the Lok Sabha election results, Patil said, “He has a right to speak as he is our guardian. I have not heard what he said. We have received some setbacks, but we are not finished.”
Options being explored for Vinod Tawade
Patil said several options are being discussed for the party’s general secretary Vinod Tawade who is in the race to become the next national president of BJP. “Tawade is efficient and goes into smaller details to get success for the party. Currently, he is playing a big role in running the party. The central leadership will decide what to offer him. Many options are being discussed for him. Whatever he becomes, he will reach new heights for which I will be happy,” Patil said.
Meanwhile, Congress MLC Satej Patil, while responding to Patil’s view on Uddhav Thackeray, said, “The opposition is trying to make us fight against each other, but it will never happen. The mandate shows that the common people stood with the MVA. He (Chandrakant Patil) should speak on what happened to the “Ab Ki Baar, 400 Paar” slogan.”