Sugar cooperative veteran Dilip Walse Patil has been appointed as the new home minister of Maharashtra in the wake of resignation of Anil Deshmukh. Patil was the Chairman of the apex body of national sugar co-op federation before he was inducted in the Cabinet of Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition.
Patil is an MLA from Ambegaon, Pune from NCP. He is former Finance Minister and Ex-Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. He was also PA to Sharad Pawar.
Patil is also on the board of Pune District Central Cooperative Bank. According to his friends, Patil has been active in cooperatives for many years. He is also on the board of Bhimashankar Sahakar Sakaar Kharkhana Limited also.
Given the fluid political situation in the state, Patil is sure to face rough weather. But Sharad Pawar’s absolute trust in him would help him ride over the tide, said one of Patil’s associates.