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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

NDA power matrix reshaped after success

AI generated image Mumbai: A quiet coup in the state has triggered a loud shift in the power dynamics of the nation’s capital. By engineering the defection of six additional MPs, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has nearly doubled his parliamentary muscle, transforming his Shiv Sena faction from a junior regional partner into an indispensable pillar of the NDA. Now sitting on a commanding 13 seats, Shinde has dramatically increased his political leverage—leaving a cautious BJP to weigh the...

NDA power matrix reshaped after success

AI generated image Mumbai: A quiet coup in the state has triggered a loud shift in the power dynamics of the nation’s capital. By engineering the defection of six additional MPs, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has nearly doubled his parliamentary muscle, transforming his Shiv Sena faction from a junior regional partner into an indispensable pillar of the NDA. Now sitting on a commanding 13 seats, Shinde has dramatically increased his political leverage—leaving a cautious BJP to weigh the cost of an emboldened ally demanding a bigger slice of the pie in both the Union and state cabinets. In a masterstroke of political engineering that has profoundly jolted political landscape, Shinde has once again demonstrated his formidable capacity for disruption. The rebellion of six out of nine Lok Sabha Members of Parliament from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), ostensibly joining Shinde’s ranks under the banner of “Operation Tiger,” is not merely a regional skirmish. It is a calculated power play that reverberates through the highest corridors of power in New Delhi. By nearly doubling his party’s strength in the lower house from seven to thirteen MPs, Shinde has dramatically altered his own political trajectory, elevating his faction from a helpful regional ally to an indispensable pillar of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Shinde’s Stature The immediate consequence of this crossover is a massive surge in Shinde’s stature within the NDA hierarchy. With thirteen parliamentarians, his Shiv Sena is now poised to become the fourth-largest bloc in the ruling national coalition, sitting just behind the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Telugu Desam Party, and the newly formed Nationalist Citizens Party of India. This numerical leap is of immense strategic value to the BJP-led central government. In a parliamentary environment where the ruling coalition possesses only a modest majority, every single seat counts. The central leadership is acutely aware of upcoming legislative hurdles, particularly ambitious constitutional amendments like the proposed delimitation bill, which will require a formidable two-thirds majority. By acting as the architect of this crucial numerical boost, Shinde has cemented his reputation as a reliable and highly effective operator for the NDA, significantly increasing his bargaining power and political leverage. National Relief For the BJP, this development evokes a complex mixture of profound national relief and acute regional anxiety. From the vantage point of PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Shinde’s successful poaching operation is a clear windfall. It simultaneously fortifies the NDA’s numerical strength in New Delhi while severely crippling a vocal opposition force in Maharashtra. The central BJP leadership views Shinde as a vital asset capable of bridging the gap between their current numbers and the overwhelming mandates of the past. However, the perspective from the Maharashtra BJP headquarters is noticeably more apprehensive. State BJP leaders openly acknowledge Shinde’s soaring political equity, but they are increasingly wary of his expanding ambitions. They recognize that an emboldened Shinde, eager to fill the political vacuum left by Uddhav Thackeray and a fragmented Nationalist Congress Party, will aggressively attempt to expand his footprint across the state, potentially encroaching upon the BJP’s own traditional support bases. Power Sharing This dramatically enhanced political heft immediately raises pressing questions regarding power-sharing arrangements, both at the Centre and in the state. Armed with thirteen MPs, Shinde’s camp is undoubtedly preparing to seek greater political rewards. In the Union Cabinet, his demand for an additional, high-profile ministerial berth is now backed by solid arithmetic. Given his heightened utility to the national coalition, the BJP high command is highly likely to accommodate this request during the next cabinet reshuffle. However, the power struggle within the Maharashtra state cabinet promises to be far more contentious. Shinde, who had to settle for the Deputy Chief Ministership behind Devendra Fadnavis following the last assembly elections, may now feel emboldened to petition the BJP leadership for the top job. The BJP’s state unit is actively preparing to fiercely resist any such demand. Senior BJP leaders are quick to emphasize that despite his parliamentary gains, Shinde’s legislative strength in the state assembly hovers around 57 MLAs, dwarfed by the BJP’s commanding 132 legislators. Consequently, conceding the Chief Minister’s chair remains highly improbable. Instead, the BJP will be forced into a delicate balancing act, likely appeasing Shinde by granting his faction a larger share of influential, heavyweight portfolios within the state government to keep the alliance stable. Ultimately, through sheer political audacity, Eknath Shinde has ensured that neither New Delhi nor Mumbai can afford to govern without catering to his increasingly formidable political weight.

First Generation Success

Updated: Mar 10, 2025

The middle-class backgrounds and high-flying lucrative jobs didn’t stop them from pursuing their dreams of launching successful business ventures. These three first-generation entrepreneurs show how passion, commitment and hard work can be a winning combination.

 


Kalyani Kulkarni
Kalyani Kulkarni

Kalyani Kulkarni

Founder and CEO, PeerLogic Systems, Pune

 

Her career graph followed that of most young academics-oriented people—after pursuing engineering in Pune, Kalyani Kulkarni moved to the United States for high education and worked as a telecommunication system developer in Boston, Massachusetts. She returned to India to rejoin her family in the year 2005 and was instantly hired by a Pune-based software product developer. While working with the company, the thought of entrepreneurship crept in. “There were a lot of things that I could do better and differently, and thus help customers and employees – something my existing organization could not do,” she recollects. The real question was: “If I should spend time convincing others to adopt value-added changes or do it myself for my clients through my own enterprise.” With the support and encouragement from her parents, she took the plunge and incorporated PeerLogic Systems in April 2013. “Like with every small organization, I faced two key challenges: finding a client who is willing to pay the right fees and hiring skilled professionals from larger organizations, who come with higher expectations,” says Kulkarni.  

Over the last decade, the company has overcome these and many more challenges to establish itself as a niche player in the telecoms application development sector. “While setting up your own business, one has to make bigger compromises - more so on the

financial and family time fronts. I am glad that my husband and daughter didn’t mind it,” she quips.



Swati Sahasrabuddhe
Swati Sahasrabuddhe

Swati Sahasrabudhe, Co-founder and Director, WSC Media and Entertainment (Why Stay Calm!), Mumbai


Mumbai, the city of dreams, offers countless career opportunities and Swati Sahasrabudhe made the most of them. Raised in a middle-class family, her parents encouraged her to explore various career paths. From performing at major fashion and cricket events to working as a call center professional, Sahasrabudhe’s diverse experiences shaped her professional journey. She ventured into content writing for websites and magazines, while earning degrees in science, journalism, and public relations. Her passion for journalism, rooted in her love for writing, a skill inherited from her father, led her to the media industry. “I’ve been fortunate to work with the top corporates and agencies,” says Sahasrabudhe. “The various roles I took made me overcome newer challenges. This helped me excel in client acquisition and business development, fast-tracking my career journey,” she says.

 

Having worked with leading corporate houses such as IBM, DDB Mudra, Percept, Havas Media – HUL and Dentsu, Aegis Media among others, Sahasrabudhe was at the peak of her career when the world came to a standstill during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Back then in 2020, a few friends, who are now my partners, planted the idea of starting our own agency. At first, I was hesitant, but after a few early wins, my doubts quickly turned into full-blown conviction,” she says.

 

Today, WSC (Why Stay Calm!), akin to its name, has created a niche for itself, offering a combined suite of movie marketing, digital PR, events, influencer marketing and celebrity endorsements. The agency counts big-ticket projects such as brand alliances for Pushpa 2,

Sahyadri Hospitals digital movie production with Anil Kapoor, influencer campaigns with Mrunal Thakur, Jim Sorab and other to name a few.

 

“Being a woman entrepreneur comes with its fair share of challenges, but luckily, I don’t face them alone. With the unwavering support of my husband, I am able to push through. I’m truly grateful to his constant backing – I couldn’t do it without him!” says Sahasrabudhe.



Mona Pandit
Mona Pandit

Mona Pandit, co-founder, RESHMONA Pharmaceuticals, Pune

 

Born and raised in Pune, Mona Pandit comes from a family of doctors, with Ayurveda deeply embedded in her roots. Her father, late Dr. Satish Pandit, was a passionate Ayurvedic doctor who firmly believed in the healing power of Ayurvedic herbs. His extensive research led to the creation of a unique skincare formulation, which he transformed into brand RESHMONA, a name inspired by his daughters, Reshma and Mona.

 

Mona developed an early interest in Ayurveda under her father’s guidance, she pursued a successful career in media and public relations. She held leadership roles at top firms like Genesis Burson-Marsteller and Ketchum Sampark, helping clients build their brand reputation. However, her deep-seated passion for Ayurveda eventually made her leave a high-profile job to reimagine RESHMONA for the modern world. She rebranded it as RESHMONA VEDIC, an Ayurvedic skincare, haircare, and personal care brand. The brand blends tradition with innovation, carrying forward her father’s legacy in a meaningful way. “My father dedicated his life to mastering this ancient science, and his knowledge is my guiding force. Through RESHMONA VEDIC, I’m trying to bridge the gap between traditional and modern skincare formulations. In a world dominated by chemical-laden products, I would like to restore the faith in nature’s ability to enhance true beauty,” she says. 

 

Mona doesn’t have a formal training or education in Ayurveda or pharmacy, but her passion for the business drove her to immerse herself in this field. She spent countless hours in the laboratory, learning the intricacies of skincare formulations, market dynamics, and regulatory requirements. “Right after starting this venture in 2018, I faced an immense personal loss; my father’s death left me feel directionless. But his vision, values, and unwavering belief in my potential became my guiding light. RESHMONA VEDIC is not just a brand today—it is a dream fulfilled and a tribute to my father’s spirit,” says Mona.

 

Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy. “Our society often fails to take women entrepreneurs seriously. People misguide them, the funding is limited and there is a general discouragement from people around. But instead of holding me back, these challenges fuelled my determination and reinforced my belief in my vision,” she says confidently. 

 

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