A meeting between Maharashtra NCP (SP) president Jayant Patil and BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule has sparked speculation about possible political shifts. The 25-minute meeting, held at Bawankule’s official bungalow on Tuesday night, was also attended by Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. Both leaders, however, maintain that the discussions were strictly non-political.

Jayant Patil was quick to dismiss rumours of joining the BJP, stating that the meeting focused solely on issues affecting his constituency. “I met Bawankule around 7.50pm at his official residence. I handed over 13-14 letters concerning problems in the revenue department that are troubling farmers in my constituency. Many of them are struggling with online processes related to land records and other services,” Patil told the media.

Echoing Patil’s statements, Bawankule also downplayed the political angle. “The meeting wasn’t secretive, there were 400-500 people present at my bungalow when Patil met me. Patil raised 14 critical points, and I assured him that I would address them. There were no political talks,” Bawankule affirmed.

Despite the denials, political circles are rife with speculation. Insiders suggest Patil’s recent actions indicate a potential shift in his political stance. A close aide to NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Patil has played a key role in strengthening the party.

Sharad Pawar once hinted that Patil could be a chief ministerial candidate if the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) returned to power. However, after the party’s poor performance in the recent State Assembly elections, Patil’s leadership faced scrutiny, causing visible unease within the party.

Adding fuel to the fire, during a recent Assembly session post the formation of the Mahayuti government, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar openly invited Patil to join his faction. Patil’s cryptic response, “The right decision at the right time,” has only intensified speculation about his political future.

Since the electoral defeat, Patil has been relatively inactive in politics. His silence on key controversies, such as the cases involving Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde and Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, has not gone unnoticed. He also refrained from commenting on the recent removal of ineligible names from the Ladki Bahin beneficiary list.

Adding to the intrigue, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recently attended a function at the Rajaram Bapu Patil factory in Sangli, organised by Patil. The high-profile appearance has raised eyebrows across political circles, further fuelling speculation about Patil’s next move.

While both Patil and Bawankule maintain that their meeting was strictly non-political, the timing and context have left many wondering whether there’s more to the story than meets the eye.