{"id":27214,"date":"2026-01-07T03:28:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T03:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/shivaji-maharaj-was-a-patidar-bjp-minister-sparks-row-in-maharashtra-opposition-hits-back-politics-news\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T03:28:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T03:28:11","slug":"shivaji-maharaj-was-a-patidar-bjp-minister-sparks-row-in-maharashtra-opposition-hits-back-politics-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/shivaji-maharaj-was-a-patidar-bjp-minister-sparks-row-in-maharashtra-opposition-hits-back-politics-news\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Shivaji Maharaj Was A Patidar&#8217;: BJP Minister Sparks Row In Maharashtra, Opposition Hits Back | Politics News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9814411\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-3759419209\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-3759419209\">January 07, 2026, 08:27 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9814411\" class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-1668337405 asubttl-schema\">Patil&#8217;s remarks soon drew criticism in Maharashtra, where Shivaji Maharaj is revered as a Maratha ruler from the Bhonsle clan.<\/h2>\n<div id=\"artshare\" class=\"jsx-6902480ec69d7696 artshare\">\n<div class=\"jsx-6902480ec69d7696 stickdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-6902480ec69d7696 deskwrapstkdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-6902480ec69d7696 fontchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/font.svg\" height=\"30px\" width=\"30px\" alt=\"font\" title=\"font\" class=\"jsx-6902480ec69d7696 lazyload\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-6902480ec69d7696 artsharwrp\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.whatsapp.com\/send?text='Shivaji%20Maharaj%20Was%20A%20Patidar'%3A%20BJP%20Minister%20Sparks%20Row%20In%20Maharashtra%2C%20Opposition%20Hits%20Back - %0D%0Ahttps:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/shivaji-maharaj-was-a-patidar-bjp-minister-sparks-row-in-maharashtra-opposition-hits-back-9814411.html%3Futm_source%3Dwhatsapp%26utm_medium%3Dsocial_share%26utm_campaign%3Dnw18english%0D%0A %0D%0A Get the latest news anytime, anywhere. Install News18 app for free! %0D%0Ahttps:\/\/onelink.to\/website-share-eng\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"jsx-6902480ec69d7696 sclrnd wapp social_share\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-6902480ec69d7696 notifycnt social_share\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/new_share_icon.svg\" alt=\"new share icon\" title=\"new share icon\" width=\"8\" height=\"9\" class=\"jsx-6902480ec69d7696 social_share\"\/><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/new_whatsapp_icon.svg\" alt=\"new whatsapp icon\" title=\"new whatsapp icon\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" class=\"jsx-6902480ec69d7696 social_share\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-1668337405\">\n<figure class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-1668337405 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"BJP leader and Union minister CR Patil (File Photo)\" title=\"BJP leader and Union minister CR Patil (File Photo)\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-1668337405\"\/><\/p>\n<p>BJP leader and Union minister CR Patil (File Photo)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\">Union minister CR Patil sparked a massive controversy after he said that 17th-century Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj belonged to the Patidar caste. The remarks of the BJP leader triggered sharp reactions from opposition parties in Maharashtra.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\">The remarks were made during a public event, when Patil, a Member of Parliament from Gujarat, while praising the Patidar community, a prominent agrarian group in Gujarat, said that Shivaji Maharaj was a Patidar.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\">\u201cIf anyone deserves the credit for bringing the entire country together, it is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He was a Patidar. If there is anyone who ensures that no one stays hungry in such a prestigious community or village, it is the Patidar community; that is what it means to be a Patidar. I am happy to say that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was also a Patidar,&#8221; the Union minister said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\">Patil\u2019s remarks soon drew criticism in Maharashtra, where Shivaji Maharaj is revered as a Maratha ruler from the Bhonsle clan.<\/p>\n<h4>Opposition Attacks<\/h4>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\">Hitting out at the BJP leader over his remarks on Shivaji, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut termed the statement an insult to the state and the Marathi community.<\/p>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\">\u201cThis is a massive insult to Maharashtra and the Marathi people. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is the deity of Maharashtra. BJP has earlier tried to claim the legacy of many great icons and failed. Now they are trying to take Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to Gujarat,&#8221; Raut said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\">Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president and Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, an ally of BJP, also rejected Patil\u2019s claim and asserted that Shivaji Maharaj belonged to the Bhonsle dynasty.<\/p>\n<p id=\"7\" class=\"story_para_7\">\u201cEveryone knows about Shivaji Maharaj and his genealogy. I have not heard what CR Patil said, but I am very much aware of Maharaj, his relation with the Bhonsle dynasty and the princely state of Satara,&#8221; Pawar said.<\/p>\n<h4>BJP Distances Itself<\/h4>\n<p id=\"8\" class=\"story_para_8\">Meanwhile, the BJP has distanced itself from the controversy. State revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said he was unaware of the Union minister\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n<p id=\"9\" class=\"story_para_9\">\u201cI do not know the reference of his statement. Everyone in the world, in India, and in Maharashtra, knows the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He lives in the heart of every person,&#8221; Bawankule said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-1668337405 atbtlink Location\"><span>Location :<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Gujarat, India, India<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-1668337405 atbtlink fp\"><span>First Published:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"rs\">\n<p>January 07, 2026, 08:27 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-1668337405 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/\">politics<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> &#8216;Shivaji Maharaj Was A Patidar&#8217;: BJP Minister Sparks Row In Maharashtra, Opposition Hits Back<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-1668337405 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/shivaji-maharaj-was-a-patidar-bjp-minister-sparks-row-in-maharashtra-opposition-hits-back-9814411.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:January 07, 2026, 08:27 IST Patil&#8217;s remarks soon drew criticism in Maharashtra, where Shivaji Maharaj is revered as a Maratha ruler from the Bhonsle clan. BJP leader and Union minister CR Patil (File Photo) Union minister CR Patil sparked a massive controversy after he said that 17th-century Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj belonged to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27215,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27214"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27214\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}