Chandrakant Patil Takes Charge of Jal Shakti Ministry Amid Cheers

Chandrakant Raghunath Patil, Gujarat BJP chief, has assumed charge of the Jal Shakti Ministry. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and emphasized that water conservation is a sacred goal. Patil aims to achieve the Jal Jeevan Mission, providing tap water to rural households by year-end.

Chandrakant Raghunath Patil, the newly-appointed chief of the Jal Shakti Ministry, formally took charge on Tuesday amid fervent chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram,' voiced by his ardent supporters.

Taking to social media before assuming office, Patil articulated his reverence for water conservation, describing it as a 'sacred goal.'

'It is a moment of immense pride and inspiration for me to express my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi sir for entrusting me with the responsibility of the Ministry of Jal Shakti. I express my deep gratitude for this important responsibility,' he posted on X.

Patil detailed his vision, saying that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, 'we will understand the importance of water, conserve it, and ensure rich water resources for future generations.'

One of Patil's immediate priorities is the ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to supply tap water to every rural household by the end of the year.

Upon assuming his role, Patil again thanked PM Modi on 'X' for his trust and responsibility.

'I am determined that through the Ministry of Jal Shakti, we will set new benchmarks in water conservation, sanitation, and management. In this direction, we will promote collective efforts and conserve water assets using the latest technologies,' he said, sharing a photo of his charge assumption report.

Patil's political journey began in 1989 with the BJP. Initially part of BJP's Surat city unit, he then leveraged his organisational skills to rise to the chairman of the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) in 1998 under Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel.

He was first elected to Lok Sabha from Navsari in 2009 and has retained his seat since. In the 2024 elections, he won by a margin of 7.73 lakh votes, showcasing his stronghold.

Patil has significantly contributed to BJP's organisational robustness and has served on various influential parliamentary committees, including the Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs and the General Purposes Committee in Lok Sabha.