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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.

If You’re Not Searched, You Don’t Exist

Every day, millions of people type questions, ideas, and problems into Google, hoping to find solutions. Some topics become the most searched on the internet, shaping conversations, businesses, and even careers. What does this mean for you as a professional or business owner? A lot more than you might think. The way the world searches affects not just global trends but also individual personal brands. And if you’re not paying attention to this, you might be losing out on credibility, authority, and opportunities—without even realizing it.


Imagine two professionals in the same industry. One understands what people are searching for, aligns their personal brand with those discussions, and contributes valuable insights. The other ignores it, assuming their expertise alone is enough to stand out. Who do you think gets more visibility, recognition, and opportunities? The answer is obvious. Today, personal branding isn’t just about what you know—it’s about knowing what the world is talking about and positioning yourself as a relevant voice in that conversation.


Google searches reveal what people care about, what concerns them, and what excites them. If you strategically align your personal brand with trending topics, you become more discoverable, relatable, and in demand. It’s why some thought leaders dominate their industries while others, equally skilled, remain invisible. The difference? One speaks directly to what the world is already interested in. This isn’t about chasing trends mindlessly but about positioning yourself as the go-to expert for the right topics at the right time.


Let’s say you’re a business coach, and a sudden surge in searches shows that people are desperately looking for guidance on navigating AI in their careers. If you recognize this trend and share valuable insights on LinkedIn, create a webinar, or even write an article addressing their concerns, you instantly become more relevant. When people search, they find you. When they read your content, they start seeing you as an authority. And when they need professional help, guess who they’ll think of first?


This applies to professionals as well. Suppose you’re a corporate leader, consultant, or freelancer. If you ignore what your industry is searching for, you might keep speaking about things that are no longer as relevant. But if you understand the most searched topics, you can shape your personal brand to stay ahead. The key is to consistently create content, share insights, and engage in discussions around what truly matters to your audience right now.


And here’s where the real power lies: credibility and visibility compound over time. When you repeatedly show up in conversations people are already invested in, you don’t just attract attention—you build trust. The more people see your name attached to valuable insights, the more they recognize you as an industry leader. This leads to speaking opportunities, collaborations, media features, and business growth. Meanwhile, those who fail to adapt become obsolete.


The real question isn’t whether Google trends impact personal branding—it’s whether you’re willing to leverage them to your advantage. You can either stay ahead of the game by being part of the conversation or risk fading into the background while others take the spotlight. The choice is yours.


If you’re serious about elevating your personal brand and ensuring you remain relevant in a world driven by online conversations, I can help. As a mentor, I work with professionals and business owners to strategically position themselves where opportunities exist—before everyone else catches on. Let’s make sure you’re seen, heard, and remembered for the right reasons.


In order to do a quick reality check, I’d like you to search your name on google and see whether or not you/your profile shows up. Check what is the ranking of your profile and what are the relevant topics your profile is being showed under. Interesting, isn’t it? Let me know on:


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/divyaaadvaani

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suaveu6


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

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