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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Unshackled yet Vulnerable

Eknath Shinde’s high stakes pivot in the post-Ajit era Mumbai: The swearing-in of Sunetra Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister has optically restored the Mahayuti’s "tripod" structure, but for Eknath Shinde and his Shiv Sena faction, the ground reality has shifted seismically. The sudden exit of Ajit Pawar—often seen as the "counterweight" in the alliance—has fundamentally rewritten Shinde’s survival equation. For the last two years, Shinde operated in a high-pressure "sandwich" between Devendra...

Unshackled yet Vulnerable

Eknath Shinde’s high stakes pivot in the post-Ajit era Mumbai: The swearing-in of Sunetra Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister has optically restored the Mahayuti’s "tripod" structure, but for Eknath Shinde and his Shiv Sena faction, the ground reality has shifted seismically. The sudden exit of Ajit Pawar—often seen as the "counterweight" in the alliance—has fundamentally rewritten Shinde’s survival equation. For the last two years, Shinde operated in a high-pressure "sandwich" between Devendra Fadnavis’s strategic command and Ajit Pawar’s administrative dominance. With the latter gone, Shinde is no longer just the "other" Deputy CM; he is now the operational anchor of the government, a shift that brings both immense opportunity and existential risk. Sunetra Pawar’s sudden elevation as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister after Ajit Pawar’s tragic death has also unsettled other Shiv Sena leaders, who publicly welcomed the move but privately expressed surprise and concern. The development reshapes the Mahayuti alliance, with Eknath Shinde caught between asserting his mass appeal and managing BJP’s growing dominance. Third Wheel Until last week, Eknath Shinde often found his administrative influence curtailed by Ajit Pawar’s aggressive style. Ajit "Dada" controlled the bureaucracy and the purse strings, often leaving Shinde’s MLAs complaining about stalled files and delayed funds. How the new reality would unfold is not yet clear. With Sunetra Pawar being a political novice inducted primarily for "sympathy" and "legacy" management, Shinde is now the sole experienced administrator alongside Fadnavis. The "administrative friction" that plagued Shinde’s faction is gone. In cabinet meetings and operational governance, Shinde’s voice will likely carry significantly more weight, as he is no longer competing for airtime with a heavyweight like Ajit Pawar. Finance Dilemma The decision by Chief Minister Fadnavis to retain the Finance and Planning portfolio—rather than handing it to Sunetra Pawar—is the single most critical development for the Shiv Sena. The good news is that Shinde’s MLAs will no longer have to beg an NCP Finance Minister for development funds—a major grievance that had threatened internal revolts in the Sena camp. However, it can also turn out to be the bad news, since financial power will be completely centralized within the BJP now. Previously, Shinde could subtly play the BJP and NCP against each other to extract resources. Now, he faces a monolithic BJP command center. If Fadnavis tightens the purse strings, Shinde has no "second door" to knock on. The BMC Bargaining Chip The immediate effects of Shinde’s new fears were seen in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other Municipal Corporations in the MMR, where insteady of bargaining for a larger share of power, the Shiv Sena under Shinde appeared to be content with whatever it got from the BJP and quietly accepting it. This was very unlikely of their track record till now and contrary to the party insiders who were very aggressive till last week sending out signals that Shinde would bargain strongly for the demands like Mayoral post in Mumbai to assert the ‘rights of Marathi Manoos’.

Ploughing for a Better Future

Updated: Jan 31, 2025

Ploughing

Every year, as the Union Budget looms, we farmers hold our breath. Agriculture in India is not just a profession but the pulse of the nation, sustaining over half the population and shaping the country’s economic narrative. And yet, the sector often finds itself in a perpetual cycle of neglect, caught between political posturing and bureaucratic inertia. The 2025 Budget offers another opportunity to break this pattern, to bring meaningful change to the farmers who form the foundation of India’s economy. But will the government seize it?


First and foremost, farmers need more than token allocations - they need substantial, sustained investment. Irrigation projects, cold storage facilities and rural markets require dedicated funds, not sporadic handouts. Without such infrastructure, farmers remain vulnerable to erratic monsoons, supply chain breakdowns, and post-harvest losses.


The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was launched with the promise of shielding farmers from unpredictable crop losses. But the scheme has often fallen short – be it in Maharashtra or elsewhere, being mired in delayed payouts, insurance company bottlenecks and red tape that leaves farmers stranded. If the government is serious about protecting rural livelihoods, PMFBY must be revamped with stricter accountability measures and faster claim settlements.


The romance of the plough is outdated. Indian agriculture needs to fully embrace the 21st century. Precision farming, drone-based monitoring, and AI-driven soil analysis are no longer luxuries but necessities. While some initiatives have nudged farmers toward modern technology, adoption remains low due to high costs. Subsidizing smart farming equipment would not only improve productivity but also make Indian agriculture globally competitive.


Minimum Support Price (MSP) remains the cornerstone of farmers’ demands, a lifeline that ensures they are not crushed by volatile market forces. While the government announces MSP hikes, the reality on the ground is different as procurement remains skewed in favour of certain crops and middlemen often manipulate the system. Expanding MSP coverage and enforcing transparent procurement mechanisms would go a long way in restoring farmers’ faith in the system.


For small and marginal farmers, loans are a double-edged sword. While access to credit is essential, the spectre of debt-induced distress looms large. Loan waivers, though politically popular, are short-term fixes at best. Instead, the government must introduce structured, long-term financial reforms—low-interest credit lines, easier repayment options, and financial literacy programs to prevent farmers from falling into debt traps.


Indian agriculture is at the mercy of the monsoon, a dependency that spells disaster in years of deficient rainfall. Irrigation projects need to be fast-tracked, and water conservation efforts must move beyond rhetoric. Efficient water management through drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting and watershed development can make farming less of a gamble.


While policymakers love to extol the virtues of organic farming, the ground reality tells a different story. The transition to organic methods is expensive, time-consuming, and riddled with marketing challenges. For it to be viable, farmers need access to subsidies, dedicated supply chains, and global export avenues that ensure organic produce fetches competitive prices.


Indian farmers often produce in abundance, only to watch their harvests rot due to inadequate processing facilities. Encouraging agro-processing industries through tax breaks, local-level food processing centers and farm-to-market linkages can help farmers reap greater profits and reduce wastage.


Erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and unpredictable weather patterns are no longer abstract concerns. Climate change is already impacting crop yields, and if India fails to act now, the repercussions will be dire. The budget must prioritize climate-resilient agriculture, investing in research, developing drought-resistant crops and creating financial safety nets for climate-affected farmers, especially in regions like Marathwada and Vidarbha.


Beyond the fields, Indian farmers need social security. Aging farmers need pensions, rural healthcare systems must be strengthened, and accident insurance should be a given. If policymakers truly believe in “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,” then social protection for farmers must be more than a slogan.


The Union Budget 2025 can either continue with piecemeal solutions, offering band-aids to deep wounds, or it can herald a new era for Indian agriculture. Farmers are not looking for charity but systemic changes that empower them. The question is, will the government listen this time?


(The author is a farmer and resident of Latur district. )

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