Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Padamsinh Patil, 69, accused of plotting the murder of his cousin Pawanraje Nimbalkar, shows no signs of remorse. In fact, he has centered his campaign for son Rana Jagjitsinh Patil, who is contesting on an NCP ticket from Osmanabad in Marathwada, on Mahatma Gandhi’s iconic phrase ‘satyamev jayate’ (Truth will prevail).
After getting bail from the special CBI courts in the case, Patil says, “I am not bothered about the case and its outcome because my conscience is clear.” The practising doctor-turned-politician has taken up the challenge to fight the big battle for his son with Omraje Nimbalkar, son of Pawanraje, who has pledged to teach the father-son “a lesson”. Nimbalkar’s signature line is ‘ye balidan vyarth nahi jayega’ (this sacrifice will not go waste). Omraje is the official candidate of the Shiv Sena.
Both the camps are leaving no stone unturned. Rana Jagjitsinh, a minister in the Democratic Front government, said, “Even in the parliamentary elections, the opposition’s campaign was centered on this false murder case to undermine my father’s image. But the people of the region still voted him in as the member of parliament (MP).”
However, with support pouring in from social and political organisations, Omraje too is confident. “The people are sympathetic towards me. How can they forgive my uncle who has plotted the murder of my father who had exposed the corruption in the institutions being run by my uncle?” The Sena-BJP has exploited the support of the generation next to champion his cause. Leading the campaign in his support is social reformer Anna Hazare.
But unfazed with the image beating, Padamsinh Patil sets out everyday on an extensive campaign for his son. “My bond with the people of this region cannot be shaken with false accusations. Pawanraje was my cousin, to whom I had handed over the reins of the financial institutions. I don’t want to rake up the past. At times I do feel hurt that people who I trusted betrayed me in the end.” Patil admits, “Now, the relations between the two families have ceased to exist.”
Patil, whose political career spans over four decades, has always been Sharad Pawar’s most trusted man. However, a close Pawar aide revealed, “Pawar has skipped the campaign in Osmanabad.” A close aide of Patil said, “At times, we get a sense that the NCP leadership has let him down. Though he is not speaking of it, we can feel that he is deeply hurt.”
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