top of page

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 Struggle Behind Success

Most people believe that making money is simple. All it takes is talent, hard work, and a little time—right?


But that illusion usually vanishes the moment they take their first real step into the grind. The truth is, there’s nothing effortless about success. What we see from the outside is only the tip of the iceberg.


It reminds me of the duck gliding across a pond—elegant, calm, and graceful. But beneath the surface, that same duck is paddling furiously, its legs working overtime just to stay afloat. That’s what building a career or a business often looks like. What others admire as “graceful success” is usually hiding years of unseen struggle, sleepless nights, and countless sacrifices.


And this is exactly where the misunderstanding begins.


We’ve grown so accustomed to celebrating only the results—the spotlight moments, the awards, the big wins—that we’ve forgotten how to honour the journey itself. We scroll past posts about persistence, we skip the “before they made it” stories, and we often overlook people who are currently fighting to make a name for themselves.


But here’s the truth: everyone who has ever “made it” started exactly where you are. Confused. Exhausted. Invisible. Questioning if it’s even worth it. The only difference? They kept going—often with no applause.


This is where personal branding becomes more than just a marketing term. It’s not about packaging yourself to look polished—it’s about giving your struggle a voice. Personal branding is what helps you show up even before you’ve “arrived.” It allows the world to witness your journey while you’re still figuring it out.


You don’t need to be rich or famous to build a brand—you just need to be real.


If you’re hustling every day, trying to get noticed, trying to make your first real breakthrough—then don’t wait for the world to “discover” you. Start telling your own story. Document your small wins. Share what you’re learning. Be seen as you are, not just as you wish to be.


Because people don’t always connect with the perfect—they connect with the honest. You may not realise it yet, but your brand is already taking shape with every post you write, every conversation you lead, and every impression you leave behind.


Most people wait for success to speak on their behalf. But the most impactful people? They speak during the climb—not just from the top.


In a world filled with noise, real stories still matter. Not because they’re flawless, but because they’re familiar. So, if you’re out there, struggling quietly, hoping someone will notice the effort you’re putting in—I see you. And maybe the world needs to as well.


If you’re struggling to get noticed, build trust, or attract better opportunities, I help professionals create unforgettable personal brands—without sounding fake. I take on only 2 new personal branding clients per month. If you’re serious about telling your story the right way, reach out soon—I’d love to hear it. Message me the word ‘BRAND’ on Instagram and/or LinkedIn and I’ll send you my favourite method. Let’s make your name unforgettable.


LinkedIn: DivyaaAdvaani

Instagram: @suaveu6

Youtube : @suaveu (Suave U- DivyaaAdvaani )


(The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from

14+ countries. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page