KOLHAPUR: The Shiv Sena has picked turncoat Narendra Patil to take on NCP's Udayanraje Bhonsale, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in the Satara LS constituency.Patil, whose father, Annasaheb Patil, was the first leader to seek reservation for the Marathas, has jumped ship frequently in the past two years. For years, he was associated with the NCP. About a year ago, he joined the BJP. Considered close to CM Devendra Fadnavis, Patil has now joined the Sena to secure a Lok Sabha ticket.Patil is the leader of a powerful organization of mathadi (headload) workers' union in Mumbai. Most of these workers are from Satara. BJP sources said they had finalised Patil's nomination hoping that the Sena would give up its claim on the seat.The Sena, however, insisted on retaining the seat. The leaders of both parties then worked out a compromise formula under which Patil was allowed to join the Sena and contest the polls.BJP sources said the party believes that Patil's candidature would help attract voters from the Maratha community in western Maharashtra because of his father's contribution.Annasaheb had launched the first agitation for Maratha reservation in 1983. He had taken out a massive march to Mumbai in March 1983. He had told the participants that he would "not see the next sunrise" if their reservation demand was rejected. Keeping his word, Annasaheb had ended his life by shooting himself the following day.On Tuesday, Patil said he would remove the sense of "fear" that prevails at toll plazas in Satara. "Industrialists start units few kilometres from Satara, but do not come here. Why is that?" he asked.

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