Suryakanta Patil

A staunch Sharad Pawar loyalist, 66-year-old Suryakanta Patil has come a long way ever since she embarked on a political career beginning as a member of Nanded Municipal Council in 1974.

A staunch Sharad Pawar loyalist, 66-year-old Suryakanta Patil has come a long way ever since she embarked on a political career beginning as a member of Nanded Municipal Council in 1974.

Daughter of a martyr in the Hyderabad Freedom Struggle, her foray into the hustle and bustle of politics was not unexpected. A graduate from Marathwada University, Suryakanta was elected to the state assembly from Hadgaon in 1980. It was due to her strong organisational and oratorial skills, she was elevated to national politics as a Rajya Sabha member in 1986. She was elected to Lok Sabha in 1991 from Nanded and from neighbouring Hingoli in 1997.

Suryakanta has held various positions in the Congress as general secretary of Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress, vice-chairperson MPCC and vice-chairperson All India Mahila Congress. She sided with Pawar when the Maratha strongman founded the NCP in 1999 and was made vice-president of NCP's state unit. She is also the party national executive member since October 2000.