Sharad Pawar’s trusted confidant Dilip Walse-Patil named Maharashtra’s new Home Minister

After Anil Deshmukh’s resignation, Sharad Pawar’s trusted confidant Dilip Walse-Patil is named Maharashtra’s new Home Minister. The development came after Anil Deshmukh resigned from his position of Home Minister. Mr. Deshmukh cited “moral grounds” for his resignation. His resignation came after the Bombay HC allowed CBI to conduct a preliminary investigation into corruption allegations against him made by former Mumbai Police Chief, Param Bir Singh.

Everything you should know about Dilip Walse-Patil, Maharashtra’s new Home Minister

Dilip Patil was born in Ambegaon, Maharashtra on October 30, 1956. The 64-year-old seasoned diplomat is the son of Dattatray Patil, a Congress MLA. Unlike how most children follow their fathers’ footsteps and enter into politics right after they are done with their education, Mr. Patil chose an unconventional route. Mr. Patil completed his studies with a PG degree at Government Law College, Mumbai, and joined Mr. Sharad Pawar as his personal secretary. Most political pundits think that it was a move that was suggested by the former’s father.

Mr. Patil continued working with Pawar for years and learned the ins and outs of diplomacy, troubleshooting and political prowess. Later, in 1990, he contested elections at his birth city Ambegaon and won the seat. Till this date, Mr. Patil has retained his constituency and has been elected MLA for 6 consecutive terms for the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly as a representative of the NCP. Currently he is serving as the Minister of Labour and Excise for the Maharashtra Government. Over the course of his political career, he has worked in multiple portfolios, including finance, energy and medical. He even worked in the higher education portfolio, being the Education Minister of Maharashtra. He is also serving as the President of the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF).

One of the most pivotal moments from his career came when the NCP high command gave him the position of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker instead of Cabinet Minister. It was then when Mr. Patil earned the respect of Assembly members as he proactively maintained the decorum of the assembly. He was also widely popular for giving first-time members in Assembly the floor.

Mr. Patil’s political career has spanned over two decades, and as a man who started as a PA, he has achieved milestones, one after the other. He has been the head of several Ministries which include Finance and Planning, Medical Education, Energy Ministry and more.

Why did Anil Deshmukh Resign?

On Monday, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh resigned from his position after the news of Bombay HC ordering CBI to conduct investigation into corruption allegations against him broke out. Reports suggest that soon after the reports broke out, former CM of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis called for his investigation.

Mr. Deshmukh now faces corruption charges alleged on him by former Mumbai Police Chief Param Bir Singh. On Monday, Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish Kulkarni labelled the case in hand as an “extraordinary and unprecedented one” and directed the CBI director to conclude the investigation in the next 15 days.

“The GR issued by the state government for a high-level committee leads us to believe that there is no interference required. However, we do agree that this is an unprecedented case before the court. Deshmukh is the home minister who leads the state police force. Thus, there has to be an independent enquiry,” the Chief Justice in the Bombay High Court added.