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By:

Akhilesh Sinha

25 June 2025 at 2:53:54 pm

Congress tries a ‘third’ hand

New Delhi: The BJP latest manoeuvre in elevating Nitin Nabin as the party’s national working president has had consequences in Maharashtra’s two biggest cities - Mumbai and Pune. The result has left the Congress party in a curiously ambivalent mood: quietly pleased by the opportunities created, yet wary of the turbulence ahead. In Maharashtra, the immediate beneficiary of the BJP’s move is Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. The BJP’s organisational signal has strengthened its hand in the forthcoming...

Congress tries a ‘third’ hand

New Delhi: The BJP latest manoeuvre in elevating Nitin Nabin as the party’s national working president has had consequences in Maharashtra’s two biggest cities - Mumbai and Pune. The result has left the Congress party in a curiously ambivalent mood: quietly pleased by the opportunities created, yet wary of the turbulence ahead. In Maharashtra, the immediate beneficiary of the BJP’s move is Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. The BJP’s organisational signal has strengthened its hand in the forthcoming elections to the BMC, Asia’s richest civic body, and in Pune, the state’s second city. For Shinde, whose legitimacy still rests on a contentious split with the party founded by Bal Thackeray, any reinforcement from the BJP’s formidable machine is welcome. For Uddhav Thackeray, who leads the rival Shiv Sena (UBT), the message is ominous. His party, once the natural custodian of Marathi pride in Mumbai, now faces the prospect of being squeezed between a BJP-backed Sena on one side and a revived Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by his cousin, Raj Thackeray, on the other. Shotgun Alliance That pressure has forced Thackeray into an awkward embrace with his estranged cousin. A reunion of the Thackeray clans, long rumoured and often aborted, has unsettled Thackeray’s MVA ally - the Congress. Signals from the party’s high command suggest a calculated distancing from Shiv Sena (UBT), particularly in Mumbai, where Congress leaders are exploring arrangements with smaller parties rather than committing to a Thackeray-led front. In Pune, the party’s pragmatism is even more pronounced. Quiet efforts are under way to entice Ajit Pawar’s NCP, currently aligned with the BJP, into a tactical understanding for the civic polls. Control of the municipal corporation, even without ideological harmony, is the immediate prize. For the embattled Congress, the civic polls offer a chance to do two things at once. First, by keeping a degree of separation from the Uddhav–Raj combine, it can strengthen its own organisational sinews, which have atrophied after years of playing junior partner. Secondly, it can allow the BJP–Shinde Sena and the Thackeray cousins to polarise the Marathi vote between them, leaving Congress to position itself as a ‘third pole.’ Such a strategy is particularly tempting in Mumbai. A tie-up with outfits like Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) could help Congress consolidate minority, Dalit and tribal voters, constituencies it believes are more reliably mobilised without the ideological baggage of Thackeray’s Sena (UBT). Severing or loosening ties with Shiv Sena (UBT) would also simplify Congress’s messaging ahead of assembly elections elsewhere. In states such as West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, where polls loom next year, the party has historically preferred alliances that allow it to emphasise secular credentials and oppose the BJP without accommodating overtly Hindu nationalist partners. Mixed Signals The Congress’ internal signals, however, are mixed. When talk of a Thackeray reunion resurfaced, Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar publicly welcomed it, arguing that Raj Thackeray’s limited but distinct vote share could help consolidate Marathi sentiment. Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad was more circumspect, hinting that alliances with parties prone to street-level militancy deserved scrutiny. Wadettiwar swiftly clarified that decisions would rest with the party’s senior leadership, underscoring the centralised nature of Congress’s calculus. In Pune, meanwhile, senior leaders are reportedly engaged in discreet conversations with Ajit Pawar, whose defection from his uncle Sharad Pawar’s NCP last year still reverberates through state politics. The outline of a broader strategy is becoming visible. Congress appears content to let the BJP and Shinde’s Sena draw on non-Marathi and anti-dynasty voters, the Thackerays appeal to wounded Marathi pride while it quietly rebuilds among minorities and lower-caste groups. Mumbai Approach Mumbai’s demography lends some plausibility to this approach. Alongside its Marathi core, the city hosts millions of migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, a constituency that has increasingly gravitated towards the BJP. Raj Thackeray’s strident rhetoric against North Indians, once electorally potent, now risks narrowing his appeal and complicating Uddhav Thackeray’s efforts to broaden his base. None of this guarantees success for Congress. Playing the ‘third pole’ is a delicate art. Yet, the Congress, struggling for survival, has few illusions about sweeping victories. Its aim, for now, is more modest – it is to survive, to remain relevant, and to exploit the cracks opened by its rivals’ rivalries. In Maharashtra’s civic chessboard, that may be advantage enough.

Unparalleled Leadership: Blend of Merit & Inclusiveness

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Every Laturkar mourns the sad demise of legendary statesman Shivraj Patil Chakurkar. We express our heartfelt condolences and pray to the Almighty that 'May his soul attain Sadgati.' His long association and guidance to me and all people associated with him will always be remembered and will keep inspiring us in the service of the Nation.


As we vividly walk down the memory lane we stand inspired with every gesture of respect and love Shri Patil Saheb treated us. On many Social occasions and assignments related to the RNLES School, the valuable time I was blessed to spend with him had left a strong influence on me.


Shivraj Patil Chakurkar was a politician known for his living by principles and connected with roots. He was a determined, dedicated and result oriented statesman having 60+ years of rich experience in public life, and led almost all Institutions of government functionaries of the nation from Municipal Council to Union Minister to the Speaker of Lok Sabha and established himself as a Leader with Difference.


Strong Willpower

With his strong willpower to bring change in the society he served the soil and was entrusted by people in all elections. He had the rare distinction of being unanimously elected as Speaker of Lok Sabha. His tenure as 10th Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996 was extraordinary. His initiatives as Speaker of Lok Sabha were applauded by various quarters. He earned special place of Respect in the heart of both the parties Ruling and oppositions. His balanced approach and voice of respect successfully helped him to defuse the tensions and ease the situations when Lok Sabha used to become tense. He was often admired by all for peacefully and fruitfully conducting the House debates.


He brought various important reforms including Schedule 10 and many more which uplifted the standards of procedure for the bright future of the Nation.


Important Reform

I must mention that one of most important reforms Patil brought to the Lok Sabha is to upgrade the computerisation and modernisation efforts of the institutional arrangements of Lok Sabha Secretariate. He ensured that various index-based databases of information were developed to provide Objective – Reliable and authoritative data to Lok Sabha members on regular basis. He also ensured that computerization of Lok Sabha Activities and it is his tenure when Notebook Computers were firstly made available to Parliamentarians to access instant and up to date information on various matters to effectively conduct their Parliamentarian Duties.


In recognition of his efforts and contribution to the Lok Sabha, outstanding parliamentarian award was launched by the Indian Parliamentarian group to be presented to a distinguished Parliamentarian for his exemplary services.


He was globally acclaimed for various successful international conferences conducted in his tenure, including SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians. He was then Governor of the state of Punjab and administrator of the Union territory of Chandigarh from 2010 to 2015. I must thank him for the hospitality extended to RNLES students when they visited Raj Bhavan during educational tour in November 2013.


The politician, lawyer, professor, agriculturist has other side of inspiring suthor too! He has penned popular books namely Reminiscences & Reflections, Vision Of India, Ecstasy and Agony of Presiding Officer, Fragrance of Inner Self, and Dialogues, Odyssey of My Life where he writes about the functioning of various institutions.


He has special love towards reading, writing, swimming, horse riding, shooting, painting and farming. He gave credit of his success to his parents and Guru Shri Sathya Sai Baba.


Patil is a pride of us all and his life is source inspiration for us all. Every Laturkar salute his dedication for the nation! And every Laturkar stand elated to be associated with you!


(The writer is President of Atrivarad Pratishthan, Latur. Views personal.)

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