Navi Mumbai, October 12: On Friday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attended the inaugural landing of the IAF C-295 at Navi Mumbai International Airport. Speaking about the airport, Shinde said that it would prove to be a boon for the people. "The Airport will be named Lokneta DB Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport," Shinde said. Initially, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, led by Chief Minister Udhav Thackeray, had proposed to name the airport after Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.

However, they approved naming the airport after DB Patil following protests in the state. After coming to power, the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government also passed a resolution seeking to name Navi Mumbai airport after DB Patil during its first cabinet meeting. The resolution was then sent to the Centre after being approved by both houses of the state legislature. While the airport is likely to start commercial flights soon, it's important to know who DB Patil was after whom the Navi Mumbai Airport will be named.

Eknath Shinde Inaugurates Chheda Nagar Flyover, Attends Inaugural Landing of IAF C-295 at Navi Mumbai International Airport (Watch Videos).

Who Was DB Patil?

Dinkar Balu Patil, also known as DB Patil, was a former Member of Parliament, a lawyer and a social activist. Patil, who was born on January 13, 1926, in Jasai Village in Navi Mumbai's Uran, led numerous protests by farmers and land owners in Navi Mumbai when the Maharashtra government-led City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) tried to acquire land in the area between the 1970s and 1980s to build a planned city.

As a student, DB Patil studied art and law and earned his LLB degree in 1951. From 1951 to 1956, Patil practised law before being elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1957 from Panvel. Dinkar Balu Patil served as MLA for five terms till 1980. In his political career, DB Patil was also elected as an MLC once and an MP twice. As an activist, Patil, who was a senior member of the Peasants and Workers Party of India (PWP), worked extensively for farmers and landowners. Navi Mumbai International Airport Welcomes Its First Aircraft.

Did you know that in 1958, DB Patil was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for participating in a satyagraha on the issue of border disputes between Maharashtra and Karnataka? During his social and political career, DB Patil also took part in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. He passed away on June 24, 2013. Earlier, Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol also confirmed the news about Navi Mumbai International Airport being named after Dinkar Balu Patil.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 12, 2024 12:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).