Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole on Saturday dismissed reports claiming he had resigned, stating that the responsibility for the party’s defeat lies with everyone. Addressing the media, Patole said, “I have not given any resignation. The tenure is usually for three years, but I’ve been here for four. This is an internal matter of the party, and everyone deserves a chance to work. I never took credit when we won, so when we lose, the responsibility is collective.”
Reports had earlier suggested that Patole had written to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, seeking to step down from his position. However, Patole refuted these claims, emphasizing that his tenure had extended beyond the standard term and that such decisions are part of the party’s internal processes.
Maharashtra Assembly Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar also commented on the speculation, saying he was unaware of any formal resignation by Patole. Wadettiwar added that the party’s senior leadership shares credit for both victories and defeats. He hinted that electoral losses might have played a role in the rumors, but any decision regarding leadership changes would ultimately be made by the Congress high command in Delhi.
Despite securing his Sakoli assembly seat in Bhandara district, Patole’s narrow victory margin of just 208 votes in the Maharashtra Assembly elections has fueled criticism. The elections were a major setback for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, with the Congress securing only 16 seats. In contrast, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance achieved a landslide victory, winning 235 seats. The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats, while its allies, the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), claimed 57 and 41 seats, respectively.
The MVA coalition, which included the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP, faced a crushing defeat. Congress secured 16 seats, the Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) managed just 10.
While rumors about Patole’s resignation continue to circulate, his statement underscores the collective nature of leadership accountability within the Congress party, especially during turbulent times. The final decision on the leadership question now rests with the party’s high command.
