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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 4:59:11 pm

Fadnavis reins in Sena’s Marathi push

AI generated image Mumbai: The ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra is witnessing a delicate political balancing act, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis increasingly overriding key decisions of alliance partners, particularly the Shiv Sena, while simultaneously attempting to placate them on other fronts. The tension within the alliance came to the fore on Thursday when Fadnavis stepped in to dilute a controversial mandate enforced by Shiv Sena Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, which...

Fadnavis reins in Sena’s Marathi push

AI generated image Mumbai: The ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra is witnessing a delicate political balancing act, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis increasingly overriding key decisions of alliance partners, particularly the Shiv Sena, while simultaneously attempting to placate them on other fronts. The tension within the alliance came to the fore on Thursday when Fadnavis stepped in to dilute a controversial mandate enforced by Shiv Sena Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, which required auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in Mumbai to possess basic Marathi language proficiency. The Transport Department’s enforcement drive, which threatened non-Marathi-speaking drivers with suspension or cancellation of their licences, sparked outrage among North Indian drivers who form a sizeable section of the public transport workforce in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Protests brought parts of Mumbai, including Kandivali and Malad, to a standstill. Recognising the potential electoral fallout, Fadnavis intervened, saying drivers need not be “experts” in Marathi. He also extended the grace period for drivers to acquire a working knowledge of the language to one year, effectively diluting Sarnaik’s hardline stance. Fadnavis announced the decision after a delegation of transport operators met him. The episode highlights the conflicting political compulsions of the Mahayuti partners. Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena is keen to pursue a pro-Marathi, “sons of the soil” agenda to consolidate its traditional voter base and counter the rival Shiv Sena (UBT) faction led by Uddhav Thackeray. The BJP, however, relies heavily on North Indian and migrant voters in the MMR, particularly as crucial civic and state elections approach. Any aggressive regional policy that alienates this constituency could have electoral consequences for the party. The Marathi language issue is not an isolated instance of Fadnavis stepping in to override decisions associated with the Shiv Sena. It fits into a broader pattern of the chief minister’s administration reviewing or reversing several initiatives of the previous government headed by Shinde. In April 2026, the BJP-led Environment Department, headed by Minister Pankaja Munde, scrapped 14 lake conservation projects, 11 of which had been cleared during Shinde’s tenure, and ordered recovery of more than Rs 73 crore. The Fadnavis government has also modified several initiatives introduced by the previous regime. In January 2025, it altered Shinde’s three-course school meal plan, placing the responsibility on local school management committees to raise funds for sweet dishes. In April 2025, the government scrapped the ‘One State, One Uniform’ policy for schools. A Rs 3,200-crore tender for mechanised housekeeping services at government hospitals, issued under the Shinde government, was also stayed. Yet, Fadnavis remains conscious of the need to preserve the fragile alliance. To manage growing resentment within the Sena, he has adopted what can be described as a ‘blow hot, blow cold’ approach — overriding decisions when they clash with the BJP’s broader political interests while offering political concessions on other fronts. One such move was the recent appointment of Shiv Sena leader Bharat Gogawale as Guardian Minister of the politically important Raigad district, ending a 19-month-long tussle over the post. At the same time, the Mahayuti government recently reduced the powers exercised by Guardian Ministers over District Planning Committee (DPC) funds, directing that 70 per cent of the funds be allocated directly to local MLAs. The move is aimed at reducing the concentration of financial powers with individual ministers. As the Mahayuti navigates these competing interests, Fadnavis has also instructed alliance partners to resolve disputes internally and avoid public sparring. However, the latest confrontation over the Marathi language requirement underscores the limits of that arrangement. While Fadnavis continues to use his authority to protect the BJP’s broader electoral interests, the Shiv Sena remains under pressure to assert its regional identity and distinguish itself from the Thackeray faction. With elections approaching, balancing these competing political priorities is likely to remain one of the biggest challenges for the Mahayuti government.

The Ramayana and the Idea of India

Across India and beyond, the legacy of Rama lives in faith, folklore and civilisational memory.

In Indian history and culture, Prabhu Ramachandra and Shri Krishna hold a vital place as enduring legends and embodiments of Hindutva, reflected in the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Rama’s life story was immortalised in the Ramayana by Maharshi Valmiki, who rose from a criminal past to become a revered rishi.


Traces of the Ramayana are found across India, and related archaeological findings are cited as evidence that it reflects historical reality rather than myth. The Rama Setu in the Indian Ocean is often presented as archaeological proof, with some claiming even NASA has validated its existence. Professor B.B. Lal’s Ramayana archaeology project brought renewed attention to remains linked to Rama’s birthplace in Ayodhya. Subsequent excavations were also cited as supporting the belief that Rama was born there. Today, the grand Ram temple at Ayodhya stands as a major landmark, drawing visitors from India and abroad.


A fully developed Ram temple was a cherished dream. As an archaeologist, I was deeply moved when I visited the Ram Temple in Ayodhya with my wife, impressed by its scale and completeness. I would like to see a similar vision in Amritsar: an international Rama University and Shri Ram Research Centre around the temple, celebrating Indian culture and the sciences of Indology that have shaped human development for centuries.


According to Burton, Indian temples were not just places of worship but also centres of learning, art, culture, religion, and spiritual awakening. They fostered social life, and their inscriptions reflected cordial and harmonious relationships.


The Message of Rama

A close reading of the Valmiki Ramayana and Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas shows that their central message is rooted in the moral values of Prabhu Ramchandra. D.C. Sarkar argued that while the Ramayana was mythic in nature, the Mahabharata had an archaeological basis. Recent studies suggest that both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata are linked to sites across the Indian subcontinent.


The Ramayana’s cultural links span India. Prabhu Ramchandra is revered as Maryada Purushottam—the ideal man who upheld moral values in daily life—and as an incarnation of Vishnu, the Protector.


The Folk Editions

During his 14-year vanvas (exile), Ram travelled across India, leaving behind a rich legacy of folklore and oral traditions that still endure. Sita’s abduction by Ravana led to the war in Lanka, where Rama fought to rescue her. Throughout the struggle, he upheld moral values and ethics, deepening his place in the hearts of millions.


Cultural Symbolism

The Ramayana symbolises dharma, presenting Rama as the ideal son, brother, husband and king. In its second adhyay, Acharya Valmiki outlines principles of governance and public service through Bharata’s questions and Rama’s replies on statecraft. These ideas, rooted in lok dharma, can be seen as early ideals of democratic rule and are later echoed in Kautilya’s Arthashastra: a king is happy when his subjects are happy.


The Ramaraj Concept

Prabhu Ramachandra’s rule is portrayed as an ideal Rama Rajya—prosperous, harmonious and free from exploitation. It is seen as a model of good governance and social justice. Mahatma Gandhi, in Hind Swaraj, also drew on the ideals of Rama and Rama Rajya. These principles remain relevant to the study of governance and political democracy in ancient India.


Some view Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s leadership as reflecting the ideals of Rama Rajya and see a second phase of such governance under Narendra Modi. Both are presented as guided by the principles of dharma.


The Ramayana is the golden via media of both rajdharm and lokdharm, both leading to the highest point of the political graph. On the basis of the discussion, it is clear that Rama is a symbol of India's unity and integrity. The Ramayana has integrated the Hindu Kush region and also expanded into Southeast Asia.


Across the Southeast Asian archipelago—from Indonesia, Malaysia, Java, Sumatra and Borneo—the sacred imprints of the Ramayana remain deeply rooted in folk traditions. Shri Ram Mandir has become a significant Hindu temple and the site of Ram Janmabhoomi, the birthplace of Rama, symbolising deep faith and the glorious traditions of India.


Ayodhya, as the sacred birthplace of Rama, has manifested rich archaeological traditions, and the present Ram temple has become a beginning light of Hindutva that will inspire millions of Indians in the future. History is a force of inspiration and a powerful cementing force for nation-building.


Shriram Temple at Ayodhya is witnessing this process as an enchanting and electrifying change. After the establishment of the Rama temple, its sacred waves are transmitting the message of development, modernity, and a fine-tuning of science and culture to transform India into a developed nation, Viksit Bharat, by 2047.


(The author is a researcher and expert in foreign affairs. Views personal.)

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