Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole is under fire after a video surfaced showing a party worker washing his mud-stained feet. The incident, which occurred on Monday during Patole’s visit to Wadgaon in Akola district, has sparked widespread criticism.
Patole was attending an event organized by a party supporter in celebration of his birthday. During the event, he visited a palanquin procession of Saint Shri Gajanan Maharaj near a local school. Heavy rains had turned the ground muddy, and as Patole walked through, his feet became covered in mud.
Upon returning to his vehicle, Patole called for water to clean his feet. A party worker, identified as Vijay Gurav, proceeded to wash Patole’s mud-covered feet with his hands. Patole neither stopped Gurav nor cleaned his feet himself, which led to severe backlash.
Criticism from Political Rivals
The incident drew sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn Patole’s actions and demand an apology.
“Congress has a Nawabi Feudal Shehzada mindset. Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole gets his leg and feet washed by a party worker in Akola. They treat Janta and workers like Ghulam & themselves like Kings & Queens. Imagine how they treat people without coming to power! What will they do if they by mistake come to power? Nana Patole must apologise & so must Congress,” Poonawalla wrote.
Repercussions and Public Outcry
The video, which quickly went viral on social media, has not only sparked political outrage but also raised questions about the attitudes of some political leaders towards their party workers and the general public. Critics argue that such behavior is indicative of a feudal mindset, out of touch with the values of equality and respect.
