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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.

Collaborate to Build Credibility

Writer: Divyaa Advaani 
Divyaa Advaani 
Jan 25, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jan 27, 2025

cornerstone

Collaboration is the cornerstone of personal branding, yet it’s often overlooked in the race to build a strong individual identity. In today’s interconnected world, no one builds their personal brand in isolation. It’s a process that thrives on partnerships, shared insights, and collective growth. If you’ve been chasing the idea of being a self-made success, it’s time to rethink that narrative. Collaboration isn’t just a tool; it’s a necessity.


When you collaborate, you’re not only combining skills but also amplifying visibility. Imagine partnering with someone who has an audience you’ve never reached before. Suddenly, your message extends beyond your immediate circle. Personal branding is about creating a consistent, memorable identity, and collaborations help you do that on a larger scale. They bring in fresh perspectives and validate your expertise in ways you can’t achieve alone.


Consider platforms like LinkedIn. It’s no longer just a place to post updates; it’s a hub for meaningful collaborations. Co-authoring articles, engaging in discussions, or even participating in a colleague’s webinar exposes you to their audience while reinforcing your authority in your field. When others see you engaging with credible professionals, your own credibility grows.


My recent trip to Australia gave me first-hand experience of the power of collaboration. As I met with professionals from different industries, I realized how much more impactful my personal brand became through shared knowledge. It wasn’t about showcasing my achievements alone; it was about building bridges, exchanging ideas, and co-creating solutions. This trip underscored a vital lesson: collaboration isn’t just beneficial—it’s transformative.


What holds many people back from collaborating is the fear of competition. The truth is, collaboration doesn’t dilute your brand; it enhances it. When you collaborate, you’re not competing for attention—you’re pooling resources for mutual success. This mindset shift is crucial for anyone looking to establish a robust personal brand.


Collaborations can take many forms. Co-hosting a workshop with a peer allows both of you to leverage each other’s audiences. Engaging in cross-promotions on social media can open doors to new followers and clients. Even simple gestures like sharing someone else’s work and acknowledging their contribution can lead to deeper professional relationships. These small but significant steps create a ripple effect that enhances your brand’s reach and reputation.


Another important aspect is trust. Collaborations work when there’s mutual respect and alignment of values. Your personal brand reflects who you are, and it’s vital to partner with individuals or organizations that complement your identity. When done right, collaborations don’t just expand your network; they strengthen your brand’s authenticity.


Personal branding isn’t about standing alone on a pedestal; it’s about building a platform that others want to be a part of. The most successful brands in the world—personal or corporate— have one thing in common: they thrive on collaborations. Think of the brands or influencers you admire. Chances are, they didn’t get there alone. They worked with others, learned from them, and created something bigger than themselves.


So, the next time you’re looking to grow your personal brand, ask yourself: who can I collaborate with? Seek out partnerships that align with your goals and values. Whether it’s a joint project, a shared event, or a social media campaign, remember that every collaboration is an opportunity to elevate your brand.


In the end, collaboration isn’t just about growing your brand—it’s about making an impact. It’s about creating a legacy of shared success, where your identity is intertwined with meaningful relationships and mutual achievements. Personal branding is no longer an individual endeavour; it’s a collaborative journey. What other better way to start your collaborative journey? Start yours today by following me on my below mentioned handles to discuss further.


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

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