Congress workers washes Patole's feet, BJP calls him Nawabi feudal shehzada'

Mumbai: Maharashtra Congress leader Nana Patole once again found himself in a controversy after a video of a party worker washing his feet went viral. The issue sparked a political row with the BJP accusing the Congress of a ‘feudal mindset’ and demanded an apology from Patole.

The incident occurred on Monday during Patole’s tour of Akola district, where he attended a program in Wadegaon and visited the palanquin procession of Saint Gajanan Maharaj. Patole apparently had walked through the mud and on returning to his car, the party worker was seen pouring water on the former’s feet and cleaning them with his hands.

Targeting Patole, BJP Mumbai’s official handle posted on X and said, “What is unfortunate is that the Congress is repeatedly insulting the workers who fight for their lives. It’s a shame that Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole made a worker wash his feet because his feet were muddy. Is this the culture of Congress?”

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla called the Congress’ action as ‘Nawabi feudal shehzada’ mindset and demanded apologies from the party and Patole himself.

“Congress has a Nawabi Feudal Shehzada mindset. Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole gets his leg and feet washed by a party worker in Akola. They treat Janta and workers like Ghulam & themselves like Kings & Queens. Imagine how they treat people without coming to power! What will they do if they by mistake come to power? Nana Patole must apologise & so must Congress,” Poonawalla said on X.

However, Patole said that the incident had been blown out of proportion, saying his feet got muddied after taking part in a palanquin procession. “I come from a farmer's family and am used to having my feet covered in mud... So I had asked a party worker to bring water. He poured it from a bottle as there was no tap available nearby,” he said.

Patole also hit out at the government saying that while the farmers are burdened by loans and need to be brought out of their plight, the ruling dispensation was not at all concerned.

“What about ED and CBI ka keechad on those in power... why is the (central) government not helping farmers escape the karje ka keechad (the debt trap)?” Patole asked.

Shiv Sena MLC Manisha Kayande said the Congress got success in Lok Sabha elections by carrying out propaganda about change in Constitution, but Patole’s act has exposed his party’s feudal mentality. “It shows the feudal mentality is deeply rooted in Congress. By acting like a feudal, Patole has insulted the Constitution. Congress’s concern for saving the Constitution was fake,” she said.