Who is Nila Vikhe Patil? Maharashtra BJP minister’s niece elected to Sweden Parliament
Who Is Nila Vikhe Patil, Sweden’s New Green Party MP?
Bharatmorningnews.com – Who is Nila Vikhe Patil? The Swedish Green Party politician has been elected to the Riksdag from the Stockholm City constituency, drawing attention in India because of her family’s longstanding links to Maharashtra’s public life, education sector and cooperative movement.
The 41-year-old was elected after Sweden’s national election on September 13 and will join the country’s 349-member Parliament. She is the niece of Maharashtra BJP minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil.
“It feels nice to be a part of the 349-member Parliament. I am looking forward to contributing to the city and the country.”
Her priorities in the Swedish Parliament
Nila Vikhe Patil has said she wants to represent people who cannot vote and help create a society where children have better opportunities. Environmental protection is also central to her stated political agenda.
“I would like to be voice for those who cannot vote. I want to contribute to a society where every child gets a chance for a good future. We need a habitable planet with clean water, living nature and as few human-caused natural disasters as possible.”
Her election comes after a closely contested vote in Sweden. The Social Democrats, Left Party, Centre Party and Green Party won a combined 176 seats, compared with 173 seats secured by the four parties that formed or supported the outgoing conservative-led government.
The three-seat advantage gives the opposition grouping a narrow majority in the Riksdag. The Social Democrats became the largest party with 99 seats.
Maharashtra roots and family background
Although she was born in Sweden, Nila Vikhe Patil spent part of her childhood in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. She is the daughter of educationist Ashok Vikhe Patil, chairman of the Vikhe Patil Foundation, which runs educational institutions in several parts of Maharashtra.
She is the granddaughter of former Union minister Balasaheb Vikhe Patil and the great-granddaughter of Vithalrao Vikhe Patil, who is credited with establishing Asia’s first cooperative sugar factory.
Patil has spoken about the influence of her grandfather, including his encouragement of her early interest in public affairs.
“I hope to make my grandfather proud. He made me read the state budget when I was 15.”
She has also said that she remains deeply connected to India and has close Indian friends, while remembering regular conversations with her grandfather in his final years.
Education and political experience
For those asking who is Nila Vikhe Patil beyond her family connection, her career combines economics, law, finance and Swedish politics. She earned a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the Gothenburg School of Business, and also studied at the Complutense University of Madrid in Spain.
She has worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers since 2020 and became an authorised public accountant in April 2025. Before entering Parliament, she built extensive experience in public life through the Green Party, youth organisations and municipal politics in Stockholm.
During Stefan Lofven’s administration, she worked as a political adviser in the Swedish prime minister’s office, covering finance, taxation and housing. She later served on the Stockholm City Council and has held several internal Green Party roles, including work with the Stockholm Green Party’s election committee.
FAQ: Nila Vikhe Patil’s election
Which party does Nila Vikhe Patil represent? She represents Sweden’s Green Party.
Where was she elected? She was elected to Sweden’s Riksdag from the Stockholm City constituency.
How is Nila Vikhe Patil connected to Maharashtra? She is the niece of Maharashtra BJP minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and comes from the Vikhe Patil family, which has prominent connections to Maharashtra’s education and cooperative sectors.
What does the Riksdag do? Sweden’s Parliament debates and passes laws, considers the national budget and scrutinises the government’s work.