Maharashtra Congress Reels as Senior Leader Kunal Patil Defects to BJP

In a significant setback for the Maharashtra Congress, Kunal Patil, the party’s working president and former two-term MLA from Dhule Rural, is set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today, July 1, 2025, in Mumbai. According to sources, Patil’s decision to switch allegiance is expected to weaken the Congress’s influence in North Maharashtra, particularly in the Dhule region, ahead of upcoming civic elections.

Patil, known for his close association with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, will formally join the BJP in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. Reports indicate that Patil will be accompanied by approximately 700 supporters, further amplifying the impact of his departure on the Congress’s organizational strength in the region. The sources also noted that Apurva Hire, a former MLA from Nashik’s teachers’ constituency, will join the BJP alongside Patil, bolstering the party’s position in North Maharashtra.

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This defection follows a string of high-profile exits from the Congress in Maharashtra, including former leaders like Ashok Chavan, Baba Siddique, and Zeeshan Siddique, who have also joined either the BJP or the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Patil’s move is seen as a strategic gain for the BJP, which aims to consolidate its influence in the state ahead of key electoral battles.