Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Indian-Origin Swedish MP Questions Relatives' Claims Over Her Victory
Nila Vikhe Patil was elected to Sweden's Parliament.
She belongs to the Green Party and represents Stockholm City.
Her uncle Radhakrishna and cousin Sujay are Indian politicians from Maharashtra.
Nila says they acted as if their family helped cause her victory.
She says she has not been in contact with them for more than ten years.
Her uncle said her success made the family proud.
Nila said she and her relatives have different political views.
She also said she plans to remain with her party.
Nila Vikhe Patil, a Green Party member, was elected to Sweden's 349-member Parliament from Stockholm City.
She criticized her uncle, Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, and cousin Sujay Vikhe Patil for portraying themselves as connected to her political success.
Nila said she has had no contact with either relative for more than a decade, despite regularly visiting India.
Radhakrishna described her election as a matter of family pride and joy and congratulated her.
Nila said her politics differs from her relatives' and that she would not change parties, while they had changed political affiliations.
- Who
- Nila Vikhe Patil, her uncle Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, and her cousin Sujay Vikhe Patil.
- What
- Nila challenged her relatives' claims that the Vikhe family was connected to her election victory in Sweden.
- When
- Nila was elected in the national election held on September 13; the article does not specify the year.
- Where
- Nila was elected from the Stockholm City constituency in Sweden, while her relatives are Maharashtra politicians in India.
- Why
- Nila said her uncle and cousin had been estranged from her for more than a decade and were now seeking to associate themselves with her success.
Nila's Account
Relatives' Account
Role in the election
Nila's Account
Nila says her uncle and cousin had no role in her success and are seeking a piggyback ride after her election.
Relatives' Account
Sujay was described as boasting about the Vikhe family's connection to members being elected in Maharashtra and Sweden, while Radhakrishna presented Nila's victory as family pride.
Family relationship
Nila's Account
Nila says she has had no contact with either relative for more than a decade.
Relatives' Account
Radhakrishna called Nila to congratulate her and publicly praised her consistent efforts, indicating a supportive family response.
Political outlook
Nila's Account
Nila says her politics is different from theirs and that she will not change her party.
Relatives' Account
Radhakrishna previously moved from Congress and Shiv Sena to the BJP, while Sujay is associated with the BJP family political network described in the article.
- Elected office
- Member of Sweden's 349-member Parliament
- Constituency
- Stockholm City
- Party
- Green Party
- Age
- 41
- Uncle
- Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, a Maharashtra minister
- Cousin
- Sujay Vikhe Patil, a former Lok Sabha member
- Education
- MBA in Economics and Law from Gothenburg School of Business and University De Complutense