As Maharashtra gears up for a pivotal assembly election, the state’s Maratha royals are emerging as influential players, reinvigorating their legacy and political relevance. From Kolhapur’s Ghatge and Chhatrapatis to the warring Bhosales of Satara, these regal figures are turning heads and wielding clout —whether in switching political camps, drawing massive crowds, or resolving high-stakes disputes over candidate nominations. Their involvement reflects both tradition and strategic electoral recalibration. While the jury is out as to their ability to tip the electoral balance, they certainly are in the reckoning in the November 20 battle.
In September, Samarjeet Ghatge, a BJP leader and a descendant of the Kagal royal family, known for his close ties with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, turned his coat to Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (SP) with considerable fanfare.
Ghatge has been seething ever since his arch-rival Hasan Mushrif, a cabinet minister and another key member in the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, aligned himself with the ruling Mahayuti coalition in wake of Ajit’s rebellion. Ghatge and Mushrif have been daggers drawn for a long time when the latter was part of the undivided NCP. Their feud is well-known in Kolhapur. Now, with Ghatge on the MVA’s side, Mushrif, as the ruling Mahayuti’s candidate, finds his 25-year grip over Kagal seriously challenged.
Meanwhile, another dramatic about-face was witnessed in Kolhapur within the MVA coalition, as it nominated Madhurima Raje Chhatrapati, daughter-in-law of Kolhapur’s Congress MP Shahu Chhatrapati, over its previous candidate Rajesh Latkar. After tensions among Congress workers culminated in protests and vandalism, the decision to field Madhurima—a name carrying weight and sway—demonstrates the MVA’s effort to leverage royal clout for electoral gain. This nomination showcases the Congress’ acknowledgement of the potential impact of royal bloodlines to bolster voter confidence and minimize intra-party discord.
Earlier, in the Lok Sabha election, when the MVA lacked a suitable candidate in Kolhapur, it was Sharad Pawar who managed to get Shahu Chhatrapati to contest on the Congress symbol. The result was a resounding win for the Maratha royal.
A most intriguing role is being played by Shahu II’s son - Yuvraj Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati. After his Rajya Sabha stint, Sambhaji Raje, an influential voice in the Maratha reservation agitation, formed the Swarajya Sangathan and has thrown in his lot with the ‘Parivartan Mahashakti Aghadi’ - a formidable alliance of Maharashtra’s smaller yet influential factions which include Raju Shetti’s Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and Bacchu Kadu’s Prahar Janshakti Party among others.
The PMA has now emerged as a viable ‘third front’, poised to eat into votes of the ruling and opposition coalitions.
In Satara, the descendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji— Udayanraje and Shivendraraje Bhosale (both in the ruling BJP)—continue to capture public attention. Udayanraje, who won the Lok Sabha contest this time, will now be expected to support his rival, Shivendraraje, who is seeking re-election from the Satara Assembly segment for the fourth consecutive time. The duo is notorious for their turbulent and at times fractious rivalry, their dramatic familial feuds and equally dramatic public reconciliations.
With Maharashtra’s upcoming election touted to shape the state’s future, the re-emergence of Maratha royals as kingmakers signals a calculated nod to heritage and electoral might. The Maratha royals, it seems this time, are not only guardians of the past but also architects of the state’s political landscape.
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