Who is Dilip Walse Patil, Maharashtra’s new home minister

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Dilip Walse Patil was on Monday announced as the new Maharashtra Home Minister after his predecessor Anil Deshmukh tendered his resignation  earlier today.

Patil, 64, was serving as the state Minister of Excise and Labour in the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government. He has served as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for six terms.

The veteran politician has formerly headed the finance and planning ministry, energy ministry, higher and technical education ministry and medical education ministry.

Also read: Anil Deshmukh resigns as Maharashtra home minister: All you need to know

Patil is known for being a close aide of NCP chief Sharad Pawar. He comes from a political background. Patil, a law student, started his career as Pawar’s personal assistant and won his first election from Ambegaon in 1990 on Congress’ ticket. Patil then followed Pawar’s path and joined NCP in 1999.

The former speaker of Maharashtra Assembly, Patil hails from Ambegaon. His father, Dattatray Walse Patil, has also been a former Congress MLA and Pawar’s friend.