Congress Rebel Vishal Patil Shocks BJP Incumbent, Wins Sangli Lok Sabha Seat by Over 1 Lakh Votes
Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Sangli, 5th June 2024: In a surprising turn of events, Vishal Patil, a Congress rebel candidate, emerged victorious in the Sangli Lok Sabha seat, surpassing BJP incumbent Sanjay Kaka Patil by a significant margin of over 1 lakh votes. The MVA candidate, Chandrahar Patil, trailed far behind with only 60,115 votes to his name.
Despite not being endorsed by the party, Vishal Patil’s triumph was celebrated fervently by Congress supporters. Hailing from Sangli’s illustrious Patil family, which includes former CM late Vasantdada Patil, Vishal contested independently after failing to secure a party nomination.
Congress MLA Vishwajeet Kadam lauded Vishal’s popularity, emphasizing his lead from the onset of the election. Vishal garnered 5,69,651 votes, while Sanjay Kaka Patil fell short with 4,69,392 votes.
Kadam spearheaded efforts to nominate Vishal Patil, advocating for his candidacy during interactions with senior party leaders. Despite this, the Sena (UBT), Congress’s ally in MVA, fielded Chandrahar Patil, who trailed throughout the election. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s backing of Chandrahar Patil did not alter the electoral outcome.
Despite Congress’s persistence, Sena defended its decision, citing its sacrifices in other constituencies. However, Kadam highlighted Sangli’s historical allegiance to Congress along with the people’s sentiments towards Late Vasantdada Patil and the significance of Vishal Patil’s candidacy, hinting at his potential collaboration with Maha Vikas Aghadi.
During campaigning, Vishwajeet Kadam maintained a strategic distance, rallying behind Vishal Patil as the preferred candidate. The local Congress cadre overwhelmingly supported Vishal, while Chandrahar Patil struggled to maintain momentum.
In response to the election outcome, Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut acknowledged internal discord at the grassroots level but expressed optimism about Vishal Patil’s alignment with MVA in the future.
