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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.

The Cost of Flattery

In the professional world, there’s a fine line between being respectful and being excessive — and that line is often blurred by those who resort to constant flattery. It starts innocently, maybe with a few compliments here and there, but quickly snowballs into a pattern of buttering people up in every interaction. While it may seem harmless or even strategic on the surface, the long-term implications of this behaviour can be deeply damaging — not just to relationships, but to one’s personal brand.


The truth is, most people can sense when praise is authentic and when it’s being used as a tool for validation or favour. While everyone appreciates recognition, there's something uncomfortable about compliments that feel forced or insincere. Instead of strengthening bonds, this kind of flattery creates distance. The very people one is trying to impress end up pulling away, unsure of how to respond or whether any part of the interaction is genuine. When someone becomes known for excessive flattery, they begin to lose credibility. Their words start carrying less weight. Colleagues and clients alike may start to question their intentions: Do they really mean what they say, or are they just saying what I want to hear? Over time, this erodes trust — the foundation of any personal brand.


In business, perception is everything. You may be talented, well-read, or experienced, but if people perceive you as someone who constantly panders or sugarcoats, they’ll find it hard to take you seriously. In meetings, your ideas might be overlooked. In negotiations, you might be seen as lacking firmness. In leadership, you may struggle to inspire. The damage isn’t always loud or visible, but it’s there — slowly chipping away at your brand value.


The irony is, those who rely heavily on flattery often do it out of insecurity or fear of rejection. They believe that by pleasing everyone, they’ll be liked more, included more, or remembered more. But here’s the reality: the most respected individuals in any field are not the ones who echo every opinion in the room. They’re the ones who speak with honesty, hold their ground, and offer praise when it’s deserved — not when it’s convenient.


There’s power in being real. There’s grace in saying less, but meaning every word. And in today’s fast-moving professional world, where authenticity is rare and deeply valued, standing out for being genuine can be your greatest asset.


Personal branding isn’t about putting on a show. It’s about showing up as who you are — consistently and confidently. If you’re someone who finds it hard to stop flattering others, pause for a moment and ask yourself why. Is it because you’re afraid of not being liked? Or do you fear that without constant praise, you won’t be remembered?


The truth is, people remember those who make them feel something real. Who offer insights, who challenge constructively, and who stay grounded no matter who’s in the room. That’s the kind of personal brand that doesn’t just get noticed — it gets respected.


In my work with professionals across industries, I’ve often observed that when individuals shift their focus from seeking approval to offering value, everything begins to change. Their posture improves. Their conversations deepen. Their presence becomes magnetic. And most importantly, their relationships become rooted in mutual respect rather than performative niceties.


It’s never too late to change how you’re perceived. All it takes is the courage to show up as you are — minus the polish, minus the performance. Because real will always be rare. And rare will always be remembered.


If this article made you pause, reflect or nod silently in agreement, then maybe this is your sign to revisit how you’re showing up — not just to the world, but to yourself.


And if you’re ready to build a personal brand that’s not built on flattery, but on influence, impact, and authenticity — I’d love to show you how. Don’t think twice and let’s just connect with the intention of bettering ourselves through our knowledge, style and most importantly – with authenticity.


LinkedIn: Divyaa Advaani

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

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