Reported By:
| Edited By: Dhaval Kulkarni |Source: DNA |Updated: Oct 15, 2014, 06:29 AM IST
When he decided to contest as a Shiv Sena candidate against former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan from the Karad South constituency in Satara district, Ajeenkya Patil, the son of Bihar governor and education baron DY Patil, took poll pundits by surprise. His brother and ex-minister of state for home, Satej (Bunty) Patil, is seen as one of Chavan's closest ministerial colleagues. Moreover, the Patils hail from Kolhapur district and Ajeenkya is based out of Mumbai and Pune.
Ajeenkya, who is the chairman of the DY Patil group and holds a master's degree in business administration from the UK, controls a string of schools and institutions in India and abroad, and will face off Chavan, rebel Congress MLA Vilaskaka Patil Undalkar, and BJP's Dr Atul Bhosale, who is also an education baron.
Ajeenkya tells dna's Dhaval Kulkarni that he has a blueprint for the development of Karad and his decision to jump into the poll fray was a personal choice. Edited excerpts:
What is your agenda for Karad?
My agenda is development. I have a blueprint for the development of Karad city and rural areas. Apart from sadak, bijli and paani, I will also focus on remunerative pricing for farmers, legislation and provision of infrastructure facilities in rural areas. I also plan to ensure that farmers diversify beyond crops like sugarcane to (areas like) horticulture, and increase employment in the farming sector. Investment in industries and set up of an MIDC will also be done. The lower rate of industrial investment in Maharashtra is due to the difficulty of doing business here. Health, schools and education and the tele-education project of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray will also be on my agenda.
What prompted your choice of the Karad South constituency where the ex-CM is contesting from?
This is the sacred land of (late chief minister and deputy prime minister) Yashwantrao Chavan who had a great vision for Maharashtra. I thought my political career should start from here for a social change. I am very impressed with Uddhav Thackeray's vision for Maharashtra and feel that given an opportunity, he will be a great chief minister. I am not fighting against anyone, I have come here to win. I am an eternal optimist. I walk 25km daily in a padayatra and go door-to-door. I have no money and muscle power. I talk to people and understand their problems.
There have been speculations over your decision to contest against Chavan since your brother is known to be very close to him.
I agree with Uddhav Thackeray's vision. This is a personal, individual choice.
