Early Life and Education
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil was born on June 15, 1959, in Loni, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. He hails from a family with a strong legacy in social work and politics. His grandfather, Vithalrao Vikhe Patil, was a renowned industrialist and social worker, known for establishing Asia’s first sugar factory in the cooperative sector in 1948. Radhakrishna completed his education at Sanjivani College of Engineering, Kopargaon.
Political Career
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil has been a prominent figure in Maharashtra politics for several decades. He began his political journey with the Shiv Sena in 1995 and later joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1999. In 2019, he switched allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He has been elected as a Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Shirdi constituency for seven consecutive terms since 1995. His political career includes holding various ministerial positions under different chief ministers:
- Minister of Revenue (2022–Present) under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde
- Minister of Housing (2019) under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
- Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (2014–2019)
- Minister of Agriculture (2010–2014) under Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan
- Minister of Transport, Ports, Law & Judiciary, School Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, and Earthquake Rehabilitation (2008–2010) under Chief Minister Ashok Chavan
Major Achievements
One of Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil’s significant achievements was his work in the cooperative sector. He played a pivotal role in strengthening sugar cooperatives in Maharashtra, which are vital for the state’s economy. His efforts led to the modernization of these cooperatives, improving their efficiency and profitability.
As the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, he has overseen several key projects aimed at urban renewal and housing for the underprivileged. His leadership in implementing the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Maharashtra has been particularly notable, as it has provided affordable housing to thousands of families.
Key Political Initiatives
Revenue Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil assured the State Assembly that his department will release a white paper on lands involved in the Dharavi redevelopment project. This commitment came after former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan raised concerns about the authenticity of the project and alleged that some lands were sold at undervalued rates. Chavan questioned whether these lands were properly included in the original tender and demanded clarity on other lands involved in the redevelopment. Vikhe-Patil promised to address these issues before the upcoming elections.
The Maharashtra government will now sell sand online on a “no profit no loss” basis to make it more affordable and combat illegal sand mining. Revenue Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil announced this change following a state cabinet meeting, which included updates to the sand mining policy. The new policy aims to reduce irregularities and criminal activities associated with sand mining. It will also involve inviting tenders for managing sand mining and establishing technical committees to oversee sand in creeks and rivers.
Controversy
1. Turmeric Powder Attack
In September 2023, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil was attacked with dried turmeric powder (Bhandara) at a government circuit house in Solapur. The attacker, identified as Shekhar Bangale, was detained by the police.
2. Legal Challenges to Ministerial Appointment
In 2019, the Bombay High Court began dictating its judgment on petitions challenging the appointment of Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and two other ministers in the Maharashtra cabinet. The judgment was expected to be passed soon after.
3. Resignation as Leader of Opposition
In April 2019, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil resigned as the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. This followed his son Sujay Vikhe Patil’s decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which created a significant political stir.
4. Ongoing Feud with Sharad Pawar
The long-standing political rivalry between the Vikhe Patil family and Sharad Pawar continues to make headlines. In April 2024, Sharad Pawar criticized the Vikhe Patil family for allegedly hindering development projects in Ahmednagar, including the Nilwande dam project and a government medical college.
Social Media
Personal Life
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil is married and has children. Despite his busy political career, he is known to be a family-oriented person. He is also actively involved in various social and charitable activities, continuing his family’s legacy of public service. His personal interests include agriculture and rural development, which align with his professional focus.
Promises and Future Commitments
During a meeting with the Revenue and National Highways teams at the Collector’s Office, it was promised that, for the next 15 days, heavy traffic on the Ahilyanagar-Manmad road would be diverted to alternative routes. The National Highways Team was also committed to repairing and smoothing the road to improve traffic conditions.
A meeting was held with entrepreneurs and cooperative society officials in Ahilyanagar district to discuss the Chief Minister’s Youth Training Program Scheme. The minister urged all participants to support the scheme, which aims to provide employment to over ten thousand youths in the district.
Minister for Minorities M. Abdul Satar launched a new initiative today, where the Revenue Department decided to transfer the Agriculture Corporation’s place to the Market Committee. A copy of this decision was handed over to the Market Committee.
During the Revenue Fortnight program in Sangamner, certificates were distributed to over 1,800 beneficiaries of various schemes. The minister informed the audience about the Mahayuti government’s schemes and assured that funding for these initiatives and development works would be provided.
On Revenue Fortnight, certificates for various government schemes were distributed, and the Mahayuti government decided to grant Khandkari farmers in Srirampur taluka free occupancy of their lands. As part of this initiative, 71 land titles were handed over to the farmers.
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