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By:

Abhijit Joshi

31 August 2024 at 10:09:24 am

Sunetra Pawar’s Trial by Fire

The greatest challenge before Maharashtra’s first Deputy CM is not merely to govern, but to forge a political identity that is unmistakably her own. Politics often rewards the loudest voice. The modern political arena thrives on sharp sound bites, relentless television appearances and instant responses on social media. Yet, some leaders begin their journey not with thunder but with quiet resolve. Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar finds herself at precisely such a moment. In...

Sunetra Pawar’s Trial by Fire

The greatest challenge before Maharashtra’s first Deputy CM is not merely to govern, but to forge a political identity that is unmistakably her own. Politics often rewards the loudest voice. The modern political arena thrives on sharp sound bites, relentless television appearances and instant responses on social media. Yet, some leaders begin their journey not with thunder but with quiet resolve. Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar finds herself at precisely such a moment. In recent days, she has been drawn into an avoidable political controversy after the Maharashtra Congress dubbed her as “Gungi Gudiya” (“mute doll”) following a media interaction in which she chose not to answer journalists' questions. The remark quickly snowballed into a wider debate about the language used against women occupying high constitutional office. It also revived memories of the same epithet once directed at late Congress Prime Minister Indira Gandhi before she went on to become one of India’s most formidable political figures. Until recently, Sunetra Pawar remained largely outside the glare of frontline politics. She was better known in Baramati for her work in education, healthcare and social welfare than for fiery speeches or electoral campaigns. Her public image was that of a composed, private individual who preferred institution-building to political theatre. Political Limelight That changed in 2024 when she entered electoral politics, contesting the Lok Sabha election from Baramati against her sister-in-law, Supriya Sule. Though unsuccessful, she later entered Parliament through the Rajya Sabha, where she quietly focused on organisational responsibilities and social initiatives rather than cultivating a high-profile parliamentary persona. The defining moment came in January this year with the tragic death of her husband, Ajit Pawar, one of the state’s most experienced and influential political leaders. His passing created a political vacuum within the Nationalist Congress Party. At a moment of uncertainty, Sunetra Pawar stepped forward to shoulder responsibilities that few had imagined she would inherit so soon. Within days, she became Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister - a milestone in the state’s political history. But such transitions are rarely straightforward. Political parties often struggle when towering personalities disappear, and observers had predicted that the NCP might witness internal divisions. Maintaining organisational cohesion during a leadership transition is itself a considerable achievement, particularly in a state where political loyalties are often fluid and intensely personalised. However, much of the public conversation around Sunetra Pawar continues to be framed through comparisons with Ajit Pawar. The contrast is obvious. Ajit Pawar was known for his decisiveness, administrative grip and unmistakable public presence. Sunetra Pawar, by contrast, has generally remained soft-spoken, measured and reluctant to engage in unnecessary confrontation. Her supporters see restraint, dignity and maturity but critics see hesitation and insufficient public engagement. Neither assessment is entirely unfair. That is why the recent Beed incident acquired significance beyond a routine press interaction. When reporters sought her comments on law and order and she chose to leave without responding, the political vacuum was quickly filled by her opponents. The Congress’s “Gungi Gudiya” remark predictably provoked protests from the NCP and criticism from leaders across the ruling alliance, many of whom argued that such language diminished the dignity of a woman holding one of the state’s highest offices. Sunetra Pawar’s own response was notably restrained. She said she would offer a “fitting reply at the appropriate time.” The remark was consistent with the temperament she has displayed since entering public life. Leadership is ultimately judged not only by composure but also by visibility. Every major political figure eventually reaches a point where inherited legitimacy must give way to earned authority. Indira Gandhi had to step beyond Jawaharlal Nehru's towering legacy before she was recognised in her own right. Rajiv Gandhi, too, had to emerge from the shadow of Indira Gandhi while navigating extraordinary political circumstances. Their journeys were shaped by vastly different contexts, but they illustrate a universal truth: every successor must eventually become an original. Sunetra Pawar now confronts a similar, though far more modest, challenge. She must cease to be viewed primarily as “Ajit Pawar's wife” and come into her own. Distinct Identity That transformation cannot be achieved through symbolism alone. After all, lasting political stature is built through decisions, administrative outcomes and public confidence. To her credit, she has remained engaged with governance, regularly attending official programmes, reviewing development projects and interacting with citizens instead of chasing daily headlines. Yet the next stage of leadership demands something more. She will need to engage more confidently with the media, articulate her government's priorities in her own voice, and establish an administrative record that reflects independent judgement rather than inherited expectations. These are demanding tasks, but they are neither unusual nor unattainable. It is still too soon to measure Sunetra Pawar’s political legacy. She assumed responsibility at a moment when both her party and the state were adjusting to an unexpected transition, and has so far navigated that passage with composure. Yet political inheritance has a limited shelf life. While quietness, in itself, is neither a virtue nor a weakness, it acquires meaning only when it is accompanied by clarity and conviction. If Sunetra Pawar is to leave an enduring imprint on Maharashtra's politics, it will not be by echoing the style of Ajit Pawar or by answering every taunt from her opponents. It will be by developing a public voice that reflects her own instincts, her own priorities and, ultimately, her own leadership. (The writer is a political observer. Views personal.)

Cracks in the Sugar Bowl: Sharad Pawar’s Calculated Rejig in Western Maharashtra

As the state readies for local elections, the political veteran tightens his grip on a shrinking stronghold even as the Congress withers and rivals multiply

Maharashtra is preparing for a bruising electoral season. Over the next five months, voters will go to the polls to elect representatives to Zilla Parishads, Municipal Corporations and smaller Municipal Councils across the state. While much of the media's attention will be on how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies fare, the more intriguing drama is unfolding behind the scenes and within the faction led by Sharad Pawar, the octogenarian patriarch of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) who is attempting to reassert control over western Maharashtra - the political turf he once ruled with an iron grip.


The recent reshuffle of the party’s state leadership is a case in point. For eight years, Jayant Patil, a seasoned MLA and former cabinet minister, held the post of Maharashtra NCP president. In an internal party meeting in Pune, Patil reportedly expressed his desire to step aside, arguing that the party needed to bring in new blood. Then, with no prior fanfare, news broke that Patil had resigned and that Shashikant Shinde would replace him. Yet, even as the reports spread, the party’s spokespeople scrambled to deny them. Jitendra Awhad, a senior NCP MLA, claimed no such resignation had occurred. Supriya Sule, Pawar’s daughter and working president of the party, publicly stated that she had not seen any resignation letter.


Nonetheless, within days, the handover was complete. Shinde took over as state president and Patil was out. It was a masterclass in controlled ambiguity. It was classic Pawar, who has built a career out of inscrutable moves and quiet power plays. The fog of confusion surrounding the transition was perhaps intentional, offering Pawar room to manage internal dissent while sending a clear message that control remains firmly in his hands.


The choice of Shashikant Shinde is notable not only for what it represents but also for what it avoids. There had been speculation that the post might go to a leader from Marathwada (a region where the NCP is comparatively weaker) or perhaps to a non-Marathi face, as a signal of broader inclusivity. Instead, Pawar stuck to his base. Shinde hails from the sugar-rich belt of Satara and Sangli, a region central to the NCP’s historical strength and still vital to its survival. The appointment reaffirms Pawar’s instinct to consolidate rather than experiment, to preserve what little remains rather than chase new rainbows.


This realignment comes as Pawar’s party braces for a daunting electoral landscape. Western Maharashtra will witness a three-cornered contest: between Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP), the BJP, and the breakaway NCP group led by his nephew and current Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, which is alliance with the BJP in the Mahayuti. The BJP, under the calculated leadership of Devendra Fadnavis, is already deploying a disciplined cadre and ample resources to seize control in urban and rural pockets alike. Ajit Pawar’s faction remains potent in areas such as Pimpri-Chinchwad and parts of Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur, but lacks the geographic spread to threaten the BJP alone (regardless of whether they are allies at the state and national levels).


Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, meanwhile, is a peripheral player in the region, with influence limited to isolated pockets such as Patan in Satara district and Hadapsar and Kasba in Pune city. The real contest, in most constituencies, will likely be a two-way affair between the BJP and Ajit Pawar’s group, leaving Sharad Pawar in a precarious third position unless he can marshal his fragmented forces with urgency.


Even more concerning for Pawar is the state of his nominal ally, the Congress party. Once a formidable presence in western Maharashtra, the Congress is now a shadow of its former self. It has all but vanished in Pune district, once the nerve centre of the party’s rural outreach. Apart from a few surviving local barons like Praniti Shinde in Solapur, Satej Patil in Kolhapur, and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in Karad, the party lacks both leadership and infrastructure. It is, to borrow Pawar’s own words from a 2021 address, “the lord of a deserted mansion.”


Whether Pawar still believes that metaphor applies remains to be seen. But if so, it begs a larger question: can he afford to continue relying on the Congress as a strategic partner in western Maharashtra and in the Baramati Lok Sabha seat - his most prized political possession? The party’s state president, Nana Patole, is attempting to revive the base through tireless tours and daily engagements, but the response remains tepid. “Our national leader is strong,” say party workers, referring to Rahul Gandhi. “But the organisation in Maharashtra is broken.”


There are still some optimists within the Congress who believe that a visit from Gandhi could revive morale. But that is hope, not strategy. In the meantime, Sharad Pawar is acting, as always, with shrewd calculation. The replacement of Patil with Shinde may appear minor in isolation, but in the context of western Maharashtra’s shifting political sands, it is a signal. The sugar bowl of Maharashtra may no longer brim with power, but Pawar intends to stir it as long as he can.



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