Chandrakant Patil vs Banti Patil is the rivalry that defines Kolhapur politics. On one side is BJP’s Chandrakant Patil, former state BJP president and minister with deep Kolhapur roots. On the other is Congress leader Satej alias Banti Patil, the strongest opposition face in the district. From the 2022 Kolhapur North bypoll to the 2026 Gokul battle, the two Patils have fought round after round.
Chandrakant Patil vs Banti Patil at a Glance
| Chandrakant Patil | Satej (Banti) Patil | |
|---|---|---|
| Party | BJP | Congress |
| Born | 10 June 1959, Mumbai | 12 April 1972, Kolhapur |
| Key posts | BJP state president (2019-22); Cabinet minister | Minister of State (2010-14, 2019-22) |
| Current seat | MLA, Kothrud (Pune) | MLC, Kolhapur Local Authorities |
| Kolhapur role | Former Guardian Minister of Kolhapur | Former Guardian Minister; Congress’s main face in Kolhapur |
Who Is Chandrakant Patil?
Chandrakant Bacchu Patil was born on 10 June 1959. He rose through the ABVP and joined the BJP, became an MLC from the Pune Graduates constituency in 2008, and served as a cabinet minister for Revenue and Public Works from 2014 to 2019, when he was also Guardian Minister of Kolhapur. He was BJP state president from 2019 to 2022 and has been MLA from Kothrud in Pune since 2019.
Who Is Banti Patil?
Satej Patil, son of Dr D. Y. Patil, has been an MLA (2004-2014), twice a Minister of State and an MLC since 2016. He is the Congress party’s chief strategist in Kolhapur district.
Also Read: Satej (Banti) Patil Biography and Political Journey
Round 1: The 2021 MLC Deal
In November 2021, BJP’s Amal Mahadik withdrew from the Kolhapur Local Authorities MLC election, allowing Satej Patil to be elected unopposed. Mahadik said he withdrew after talks with Devendra Fadnavis and then state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil, and in return the Congress withdrew from the Dhule-Nandurbar seat. It was a rare truce between the two camps.
Round 2: Kolhapur North Bypoll 2022 and the “Himalaya” Remark
The real clash came in April 2022. The Kolhapur North seat fell vacant after Congress MLA Chandrakant Jadhav died. Satej Patil, then Guardian Minister, managed the Congress campaign for Jayashri Jadhav, while Chandrakant Patil, then BJP state chief, led the BJP campaign for Satyajeet Kadam. Before the vote Chandrakant Patil declared he would quit politics and go to the Himalayas if the BJP lost.
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Jayashri Jadhav | Congress (MVA) | 96,176 |
| Satyajeet Kadam | BJP | 77,426 |
| Margin | 18,750 |
The Congress won by 18,750 votes. Chandrakant Patil accepted the verdict, but the “Himalaya” line became a political taunt that Banti Patil’s supporters still use.
Round 3: Gokul 2026
In the Gokul board election of October 2026, Chandrakant Patil was among the Mahayuti leaders – with Hasan Mushrif and Dhananjay Mahadik – backing the Chhatrapati Shahu Shetkari Vikas Aghadi against Banti Patil’s Samvichari Aghadi. Banti Patil’s panel won 13-12. But after the ordinance on nominated directors, Mahayuti won the chairman election 16-13. At the Sangharsh Morcha, Satej Patil directly accused Chandrakant Patil and Hasan Mushrif of being behind the move.
Also Read: Gokul Chairman Election 2026: Rajesh Patil Wins 16-13
What Comes Next
- High Court verdict on the Gokul ordinance will decide the next round.
- Local body polls in Kolhapur district will test both camps.
- 2029: Satej Patil has declared that a change of power in Maharashtra will begin from Kolhapur in 2029.
Also Read: Gokul Sangharsh Morcha 2026: Why Kolhapur Is Boiling
Chandrakant Patil vs Banti Patil FAQ
Why are Chandrakant Patil and Banti Patil rivals?
Both are among the most influential leaders in Kolhapur district – Chandrakant Patil for the BJP and Satej (Banti) Patil for the Congress – and they have clashed in the 2022 Kolhapur North bypoll and the 2026 Gokul election.
What was the Himalaya remark by Chandrakant Patil?
Before the April 2022 Kolhapur North bypoll, Chandrakant Patil said he would quit politics and go to the Himalayas if the BJP lost. The Congress won by 18,750 votes.
Who won the Kolhapur North bypoll 2022?
Congress candidate Jayashri Jadhav won with 96,176 votes, defeating BJP’s Satyajeet Kadam who got 77,426 votes.
Who won the Gokul fight between the two Patils?
Banti Patil’s panel won the board election 13-12, but the Mahayuti, backed by Chandrakant Patil and others, won the chairman election 16-13 with the help of nominated directors.
Which constituency does Chandrakant Patil represent?
Chandrakant Patil is the BJP MLA from Kothrud in Pune.