Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a Patidar, says Union Minister, spark controversy in Maharashtra

Union Minister and elder BJP person from Gujarat C.R. Patil’s assertion that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj belonged to the Patidar assemblage sparked a contention successful Maharashtra.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is simply a 17th-century Maratha king from Maharashtra who belonged to the Bhonsale family.

The Minister remained defiant contempt crisp disapproval from the Opposition, saying determination was nary request to politicise the issue. “I don’t cognize what leaders successful Maharashtra are saying. But determination is nary request to bash authorities implicit the issue. For my full life, I person tried to dispersed the enactment of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. In Surat, wherever helium had looted, we person installed 3 statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Across Gujarat, we person installed 5 of his statues. I person spent from my ain pouch to organise much than 100 shows of Jaanata Raja (The Enlightened King—a play based connected the beingness of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj)— successful Gujarat, truthful that radical get to cognize astir his work,” helium told The Hindu on Tuesday (January 7, 2026).

Earlier, portion speaking astatine a programme successful Surat, helium had said, “I americium gladsome to accidental that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a Patidar and that helium took palmy efforts to signifier Hindavi Swarajya.”

This remark caused a governmental disturbance successful Maharashtra up of the upcoming section assemblage elections. In the run-up to the Mumbai civic polls, the Shiv Sena has been alleging that the BJP wants to merge Mumbai with Gujarat and wants to due the city’s—and Maharashtra’s—wealth.

“This is an effort to marque Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj a Gujarati. I heard CR Patil’s code successful Gujarat. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is of the Hindavi Empire, the Maratha Empire. Don’t avenge the plunder of Surat by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj this way,” Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said connected Tuesday (January 7).

Reacting to the issue, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP person Ajit Pawar said it was not indispensable to instrumentality the Union Minister’s connection seriously. “The full State of Maharashtra knows Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his lineage. Everyone says what they want. Maharashtra knows Maharaj’s Bhonsale household and of the Satara throne.”