Latur, Oct 20 A photograph of Shailesh Patil Chakurkar, son of late Union home minister Shivraj Patil Chakurkar, with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, posted on his Facebook account on Tuesday triggered speculation about his possible return to active politics.
He, however, maintained that he does not belong to any political party – neither the Congress nor the BJP.
The photograph, shared without a caption, sparked discussions in political circles about whether Shailesh Patil Chakurkar, who had earlier served as the general secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, intends to become active in the Congress again.
However, Shailesh sought to play down the speculation, saying the photograph was posted merely to extend festive greetings and that no political inference should be drawn from it.
“I am not active in politics and do not belong to any political party, neither the Congress nor the BJP,” he told PTI.
Explaining the reason behind the post, Shailesh said his family had longstanding relations with the Gandhi family and that the photograph was shared only to convey wishes on the occasion of Dussehra.
“Please do not interpret it politically. If there is anything political to announce, I will hold a press conference and make it clear,” he said.
The photograph has drawn attention against the backdrop of his wife, Dr Archana Patil Chakurkar, joining the BJP in March 2024 ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections. She had contested from the Latur City assembly constituency on the BJP’s ticket against Congress leader Amit Deshmukh, but lost the poll.
Following her entry into the BJP, neither Shailesh nor his late father Shivraj Patil Chakurkar were seen actively campaigning in the public domain in connection with her political activities. Shailesh said that while he had been morally supportive of his wife, he had not participated in her election campaign publicly.
(PTI News)
