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By:

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.

Don’t Lose in Partnerships

Updated: Mar 3, 2025

Partnerships

Collaboration is a powerful tool in personal branding, opening doors to new opportunities, broader audiences, and greater credibility. However, in the pursuit of growth through partnerships, many individuals unknowingly suppress their own voice, diluting their identity in the process. The challenge is not just about working well with others but ensuring that your individuality remains intact, making collaboration a stepping stone rather than a shadow that dims your personal brand.


When entering a partnership, it’s easy to be swayed by dominant personalities or the allure of working with someone more experienced. The excitement of association can sometimes overshadow one’s own ideas and beliefs. Over time, individuals begin to adjust, compromise, and reshape their perspectives to fit the collective vision. While flexibility is essential, losing sight of personal values and unique insights can make a brand forgettable. Personal branding thrives on authenticity, and when one’s true voice is suppressed, the impact of that brand weakens.


History is filled with examples of individuals who navigated partnerships while keeping their individuality intact. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple, but it was Jobs' distinct vision and relentless drive that shaped the company’s identity. Wozniak played an invaluable role, but he did not seek to build a personal brand. The key takeaway? Collaboration should amplify, not mute, your unique voice.


When personal branding takes a backseat in partnerships, it can lead to long-term struggles. A business owner who continuously defers to a partner’s opinions may find their own credibility weakening. An influencer who only echoes the sentiments of collaborators risks losing their distinct identity. Over time, audiences and stakeholders begin to associate the brand with the partner rather than the individual. This shift in perception can be difficult to reverse and may lead to an identity crisis where one’s influence is diminished.


Maintaining a strong voice in partnerships does not mean being inflexible or dismissing collaboration. It means setting clear boundaries, expressing opinions confidently, and ensuring that one’s contributions are visible. A strong personal brand is built on clarity—knowing what you stand for, communicating it effectively, and ensuring that no partnership overshadows it. It’s about striking the right balance between teamwork and individuality, allowing collaboration to enhance rather than erase personal influence.


One of the most effective ways to safeguard individuality is by consistently creating independent content. Whether through writing, speaking engagements, social media presence, or personal projects, it is crucial to showcase expertise outside of partnerships. Thought leadership, original perspectives, and personal storytelling ensure that a brand remains distinct. This approach also reinforces credibility, proving that one’s authority does not rely solely on collaborations.


In any partnership, mutual respect plays a crucial role. True collaboration should encourage both parties to bring their best selves to the table, fostering an environment where ideas are valued rather than suppressed. Choosing the right collaborators is equally important—those who recognize and respect individuality rather than seeking to dominate it. The most successful partnerships thrive when both voices are equally strong, complementing rather than competing with each other.


In a world where personal branding dictates professional success, allowing one’s voice to be overshadowed is a costly mistake. The strongest brands belong to those who know how to collaborate without compromising their identity. A personal brand is not just a name—it’s an identity, a legacy, and a source of influence. If a partnership does not support growth while preserving individuality, it’s worth reassessing its value. True success lies not just in collaboration, but in ensuring that, no matter the partnership, your voice is always heard and never lost.


I personally collaborate with quite a lot of people. From my personal experience, I’d say that in collaborations knowing and understanding your partner is of utmost importance for that bond to live longer. Want to know what collaborative journeys I’m currently working upon? Follow me on my social media handles


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

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