Mumbai: In a major jolt to the Peasants and Workers Party of India (Shetkari Kamgar Paksha), internal family discord has now spilled into the political arena, with party general secretary Jayant Patil’s brother, former Alibag MLA Pandit Patil, deciding to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This development comes after Pandit Patil was reportedly denied a party ticket, leading to his discontent and eventual departure from the party.
Intially, when the news broke, several thought that it was NCP-SP’s Jayant Patil brother who has joined hands with BJP. However, further reports clarified that the development has noting to do with the NCP-SP leader and his party.
Along with Pandit Patil, Jayant Patil’s nephew, Aswad Patil, is also set to switch sides and formally accept the BJP’s symbolic lotus in Mumbai. The decision exposes the growing divide within the Patil family and reflects the widening cracks in the Peasants and Workers Party of India, which has been grappling with internal strife since the party convention in Pandharpur.
PWP’s Stronghold In Raigad
The Peasants and Workers Party of India, once a strong opposition force in Maharashtra, has seen its influence dwindle over the years. Once considered a political powerhouse in Raigad district, the party has suffered back-to-back setbacks. Raigad was once the stronghold of the Peasants and Workers Party of India, with the party’s red flag flying prominently over the district council. However, the past two assembly elections have failed to produce a single Peasants and Workers Party of India MLA from the region. Today, the party is left with just one sitting MLA, from Sangola in Solapur.
Further compounding the party’s troubles, senior leader and former MLA Vivek Patil is currently behind bars in connection with a corruption case. Jayant Patil himself, due to internal disagreements within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), failed to secure a seat in the Legislative Council, adding to the list of recent disappointments.
Despite these challenges, Peasants and Workers Party of India general secretary Jayant Patil remains defiant. “The Shetkari Kamgar Paksha (Peasants and Workers Party of India) has faced such blows before and has always bounced back. The party will never vanish,” he stated.
