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Rajendra Pandharpure

15 April 2025 at 2:25:54 pm

BJP eyes chances in Western Maharashtra after the Pawars

The death of Ajit Pawar has unsettled western Maharashtra, leaving the BJP cautiously biding its time Pune: Western Maharashtra has long been Indian politics in miniature: dense with sugar cooperatives, caste arithmetic, money and muscle power. For decades it was shaped by one extended family – the Pawars - whose writ ran from district banks to dairy unions and from assembly halls to village panchayats. The sudden death of Ajit Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) strongman and...

BJP eyes chances in Western Maharashtra after the Pawars

The death of Ajit Pawar has unsettled western Maharashtra, leaving the BJP cautiously biding its time Pune: Western Maharashtra has long been Indian politics in miniature: dense with sugar cooperatives, caste arithmetic, money and muscle power. For decades it was shaped by one extended family – the Pawars - whose writ ran from district banks to dairy unions and from assembly halls to village panchayats. The sudden death of Ajit Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) strongman and Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister, has jolted this ecosystem. The aftershocks are being felt most keenly not by his rivals, but by his ally, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that has long coveted the region. Maharashtra’s politics has always been regionally segmented. The BJP is entrenched in north Maharashtra; it has broken through spectacularly in Mumbai, including wresting control of the municipal corporation; Vidarbha remains Congress-leaning while Marathwada is competitive and volatile. Family Bastion Western Maharashtra, by contrast, has remained been the Pawars’ citadel. Control over cooperatives, especially sugar, has translated into rural loyalty, financial muscle and electoral dominance. The NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar, thrived on this architecture. The BJP, despite its national rise, has struggled to crack it. Rather than dislodge the system, the BJP sought to co-opt it. Disaffected satraps were inducted like Udayanraje Bhosale in Satara; the Mahadiks in Kolhapur; the Mohite-Patils in Solapur. Local strongmen such as Rahul Kul in Pune district were elevated and veterans like Harshvardhan Patil were brought in, if only briefly. The idea was to gradually bleed the undivided NCP led by patriarch Sharad Pawar. That effort has intensified as the BJP eyes an audacious goal: returning to power in Maharashtra on its own in the 2029 Assembly election. For that to happen, western Maharashtra is indispensable. It is no accident that the Modi government had created a new Union ministry of cooperation, handing it to Amit Shah. Cooperatives are the region’s political bloodstream. After the 2024 general election, Muralidhar Mohol, elected from Pune, was made minister of state in the same department. He was also informally tasked with western Maharashtra in a clear signal of the BJP’s strategic focus. Mohol’s brief was daunting: contain both Pawars. Sharad Pawar’s stature as a national deal-maker and Ajit Pawar’s grip on local machinery made them a formidable duo even when divided. Yet, the recent municipal contests in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad hinted at change. When both Pawars campaigned together, the BJP still managed to defeat them, suggesting that the old formula no longer guaranteed victory. Uncertain Times Then came the plane crash on January 28 leading to Ajit Pawar’s tragic death. His wife, Sunetra Pawar, was sworn in as deputy chief minister, an act of continuity intended to steady the ranks. While public sympathy is palpable, it has nothing to do with organisation. Sunetra Pawar will need time to command the networks her husband once ran by instinct. Her early gestures like visiting Karad to pay homage to Yashwantrao Chavan and invoking the legacy of Phule, Shahu and Ambedkar signal an attempt to anchor the party in its progressive tradition. Whether that rhetoric can substitute for Ajit Pawar’s authority is uncertain. Uncertainty abounds elsewhere too. Rumours swirl of a rapprochement or even a merger between the rival NCP factions. One scenario has Supriya Sule entering the Union cabinet. Another asks a more existential question: could Sharad Pawar, architect of Maharashtra’s secular, centrist politics, ever align formally with the BJP’s Hindutva project? His reported unease with a recent India–America trade agreement has fuelled speculation among supporters already anxious about ideological drift. Against this haze, the BJP’s restraint is striking. Rather than rushing to exploit the moment, it has preferred to wait and watch. The party knows that western Maharashtra is not won in a season. Cooperative elections, local bodies and caste coalitions move slowly. For now, the BJP is content to let the Pawars recalibrate, to allow factions to test their strength, and to intervene only when the contours are clearer. In a region where politics has long been about inheritance, Ajit Pawar’s absence has exposed how fragile even the most entrenched systems can be. The BJP senses opportunity, but is also aware of the attendant risks. Its wait-and-watch posture reflects a calculation born of experience. And in western Maharashtra, patience can be a weapon.

Branding for Financial Success

Updated: Feb 10, 2025

Personal branding

Personal branding is no longer just about perception; it’s a direct driver of financial growth. In today’s competitive landscape, how you position yourself can determine whether opportunities flow your way or pass you by. Yet, many professionals and business owners underestimate its power, believing financial success is purely about skills, experience, or the quality of their offerings. The reality? A strong personal brand accelerates credibility, attracts high-value opportunities, and ultimately boosts financial success.


Think about the biggest names in business—Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson. Their companies thrive, but their personal brands are what give them undeniable leverage. When people trust a personal brand, they trust the business behind it, making it easier to attract clients, investors, and industry influence. Financial growth doesn’t just happen; it’s strategically built through visibility, credibility, and trust—all of which stem from personal branding.


The digital age has amplified this phenomenon. Whether you’re a solopreneur, executive, or startup founder, your online presence plays a crucial role in how you’re perceived. Your LinkedIn activity, the content you share, how you present yourself in emails—all these factors shape your brand and influence business opportunities. Investors, clients, and hiring managers no longer just look at resumes or business portfolios; they Google you. If your personal brand isn’t strong, you risk losing financial opportunities without even realizing it.


One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is thinking that success speaks for itself. But in a noisy digital world, if you’re not actively shaping your personal brand, someone else is shaping perceptions about you. The truth is, visibility leads to credibility, and credibility leads to profitability. The more people trust you, the more likely they are to do business with you.

Financial growth follows when you are seen as a thought leader, an authority in your industry, or simply someone who delivers consistent value.


Monetization opportunities expand when your brand is strong. A well-crafted personal brand opens doors to high-paying clients, speaking engagements, partnerships, and even passive income streams. If people recognize and trust your expertise, they are more willing to invest in your services, pay a premium for your products, or engage with your content. Brands that stand out demand higher prices—just look at how luxury brands thrive based on perception rather than just quality.


But financial success through personal branding isn’t just about being visible—it’s about being strategically visible. Random social media posts or occasional networking events won’t cut it.


Your brand must be intentional, consistently reinforcing your expertise, values, and unique differentiators. Every interaction, whether online or in person, should align with the message you want to convey. Thoughtful storytelling, strategic content creation, and audience engagement turn your personal brand into a revenue-generating asset.


Another crucial aspect? Relationships. Personal branding isn’t just about self-promotion; it’s about building trust-based relationships that drive business. The stronger your network, the more opportunities come your way. Business growth is often about who knows you rather than who you know. When you consistently showcase value, others advocate for you, opening doors to financial growth you couldn’t have accessed alone.


It’s time to rethink personal branding as an investment, not an accessory. If you’re not actively managing it, you’re leaving money on the table. Your reputation precedes you, influencing whether people choose to work with you, recommend you, or pass you by. In an era where credibility is currency, ensuring your personal brand is strong isn’t optional—it’s a financial necessity.


The bottom line? A weak personal brand costs you money. A powerful one builds wealth. The choice is yours.


Look at it as an investment rather than an expense. A small step to start with would be to invest some time in following my on my online presence so that we get connected, learn from each other and grow.



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

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