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By:

Rajendra Pandharpure

15 April 2025 at 7:55:54 pm

The BJP’s Ganesha Gambit

Pune’s Ganeshotsav has become an enormous civic and political stage, and the ruling party has proved adept at occupying it. Pune: The city’s Ganeshotsav is entering its final phase, but the festival has already demonstrated something beyond its extraordinary crowds and familiar spectacle: the extent to which it has become a political stage. This year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has left a particularly visible imprint on the festivities, using an event that reaches deep into the city’s...

The BJP’s Ganesha Gambit

Pune’s Ganeshotsav has become an enormous civic and political stage, and the ruling party has proved adept at occupying it. Pune: The city’s Ganeshotsav is entering its final phase, but the festival has already demonstrated something beyond its extraordinary crowds and familiar spectacle: the extent to which it has become a political stage. This year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has left a particularly visible imprint on the festivities, using an event that reaches deep into the city’s neighbourhoods as an opportunity for public outreach. The political appropriation of the festival has not, however, been without a counter-current. Demands were raised for curbs on noise pollution, loudspeakers and the volume of dhol-tasha performances. The argument was not against Ganeshotsav itself, but for moderation - notably, a complete ban on DJ music and limits on the number of dhol and tasha instruments used by performing troupes. Familiar Troubles The festival’s reality has been rather different. Major roads have been occupied by mandaps. Processions celebrating the arrival of Lord Ganesha have unfolded amid punishing noise. DJ music, while subject to restrictions, has continued. Traffic congestion has become a familiar feature of the festival, with the movement of political leaders adding another layer to the city’s already strained roads. The Peth areas have remained crowded deep into the night. The Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati temple has drawn enormous crowds for darshan from the opening day. From the old city to housing societies and neighbourhood mandals, Ganeshotsav touches virtually every part of Pune. For a political party seeking a direct connection with citizens, few occasions offer such a ready-made network of people, institutions and local influencers. The BJP enters this festival with an unusually formidable organisational base. It has two MPs, seven MLAs and more than 100 corporators in Pune. Murlidhar Mohol, one of the city’s MPs, is a Union Minister of State. Chandrakant Patil is a Cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government, while Madhuri Misal is a Minister of State. The party’s presence also extends into the festival’s organisational architecture. Its influence is visible across numerous mandals, large and small. BJP MLA Hemant Rasane is General Secretary of the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganpati Trust. Kunal Tilak, a member of Lokmanya Tilak’s family, is a BJP corporator. The political and cultural histories of Pune therefore intersect in ways that are difficult to ignore. The BJP’s senior leadership has also made the most of the occasion. National President Nitin Nabin visited Pune to seek Lord Ganesha’s blessings, while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the city before and during the festival. Such visits are about more than religious observance. In a festival watched by millions and embedded in the city’s social life, political visibility comes almost automatically. There is also talk in Pune that the BJP provided substantial financial support to Dhol-Lezim troupes and their organisers, with claims that some major mandals received financial backing as well. These claims would require independent verification, but the perception itself points to the depth of the political contest around Ganeshotsav. BJP workers, according to local observers, have also sought to make their presence more conspicuous than that of festivities organised by housing societies. Useful Expedient The festival arrives at a politically useful moment for the BJP. The party has faced disquiet on several fronts. Young people have been agitated over the paper-leak controversy. Broader public dissatisfaction has been voiced over inflation and unemployment, while government policies relating to ethanol and charges associated with UPI transactions have also generated criticism. While a political party can defend a policy in a press conference and advertise its achievements, during Ganeshotsav, its workers can be physically present in neighbourhoods, among processions, mandals, cultural groups and devotees. Politics thus becomes less about argument and more about visibility. That is the BJP’s advantage in Pune. Ganeshotsav, after all, is not simply a sequence of religious rituals. It is an elaborate civic network involving local organisers, volunteers, cultural groups, businesses, residents and political representatives. Whoever has influence over that network acquires a powerful channel of communication with the city. The BJP appears to understand this particularly well. Its strength in Pune’s electoral politics has been reinforced by a presence that extends beyond elections and into the institutions and social spaces that organise public life. The irony is that the very scale of the festival that makes it politically attractive also magnifies the civic costs. The political value of Ganeshotsav and the civic burden it creates are therefore two sides of the same phenomenon. For Pune, the larger question is not whether politics has entered Ganeshotsav. It has done so for decades. The more consequential question is whether the festival’s extraordinary social capital will remain primarily a vehicle for political outreach or whether the same influence can be used to reconcile celebration with the ordinary civic needs of the city. For the moment, the BJP seems to have understood the first proposition better than most.

Anger Kills Your Brand

Writer: Divyaa Advaani 
Divyaa Advaani 
Feb 14, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Feb 18, 2025

Anger

Anger is a natural emotion, but when left unchecked, it can be one of the biggest threats to a business owner's personal brand. In high-stakes environments where leadership, credibility, and financial success are at play, emotional outbursts can tarnish reputations, weaken client trust, and fracture professional relationships. In an era where perception is everything, losing control can mean losing business.


Successful business leaders understand that personal branding is not just about expertise and visibility—it’s also about emotional intelligence. While confidence, decisiveness, and passion are admired traits, anger is a double-edged sword that can undermine all of them. Clients, investors, and employees observe not only what you achieve but also how you handle challenges, disagreements, and setbacks. A single mismanaged moment of frustration can overshadow years of hard work and trust-building.


Consider the case of a CEO who, in a heated boardroom discussion, lashes out at a colleague. Even if the argument was justified, what people will remember is the aggression, not the point being made. A supplier who witnesses a business owner berating staff may question whether they want to continue working with them. Employees who experience outbursts regularly may disengage, leading to higher turnover and lower productivity. The financial implications of anger are real—lost deals, broken partnerships, and reputational damage can cost businesses thousands, if not millions.


In today’s digital landscape, moments of anger are not just witnessed; they are recorded and shared. A single frustrated comment in an email, a rash response on social media, or an emotionally charged confrontation in a meeting can be captured and spread within seconds. Business owners who fail to manage their emotions risk viral backlash, affecting not only their personal brand but also their company’s bottom line.


However, managing anger does not mean suppressing it. Instead, it’s about channeling frustration constructively. The best leaders turn moments of irritation into opportunities for strategic thinking and problem-solving. They know when to pause before reacting, reframe their perspective, and choose their words carefully. This level of control not only earns respect but also solidifies their authority as composed and reliable professionals.


One way to prevent anger from negatively impacting a personal brand is by implementing a system of emotional checkpoints. Before reacting, ask: Will this response enhance or damage my credibility? Am I responding to resolve the issue or just to express frustration? What is the long-term impact of my reaction on my relationships and reputation? These small moments of self-awareness can prevent major reputational setbacks.


Additionally, business owners can cultivate an environment where emotional intelligence is valued. Encouraging open dialogue, fostering a culture of respect, and setting the tone for professional interactions within a company help maintain a positive brand image. The strongest personal brands belong to those who are known for their composure, fairness, and ability to navigate high-pressure situations with grace.


Ultimately, anger is a test of leadership. How you handle difficult conversations, setbacks, and conflicts speaks volumes about your character and business acumen. The most influential business leaders are not the ones who never feel anger but the ones who know how to use it wisely. In a world where perception can make or break success, mastering emotional control is not just an advantage—it is a necessity.


Your personal brand is your most valuable asset. Protect it by ensuring that when people think of you, they remember your vision, expertise, and leadership—not a moment of lost composure. The ability to stay composed under pressure is what differentiates an ordinary entrepreneur from an extraordinary one.


If you are a business leader or are in the process to become one, I’d love to connect with you. Let’s connect on the following platforms:


The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

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