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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.

Visibility is the New Power

In today’s competitive business world, talent and expertise alone are no longer enough. Quiet brilliance rarely commands the spotlight. People listen to those who are seen, respected, and remembered. This is especially true for board members, CXOs, and business owners—those tasked with driving vision, managing growth, and influencing decisions. The boardroom today is not just a place for numbers and strategy—it is a theatre of visibility, credibility, and influence.


Personal branding within leadership is not vanity. It is visibility. The ability to communicate authority, show conviction without arrogance, and build presence without posturing is what sets successful leaders apart from merely competent ones. And yet, many high-ranking professionals hesitate to step into the light, believing their results should speak for themselves.


But the world doesn’t work that way anymore. Perception isn’t replacing performance—it’s amplifying it. If you don’t craft your narrative, someone else will. If you don’t show up, someone else will fill the space. Whether in the boardroom or in the media, whether among investors or clients—your visibility becomes your valuation.


The common myth that senior professionals don’t need personal branding has caused many to miss out on game-changing opportunities. What’s often misunderstood is that personal branding at the leadership level isn’t about social media—it’s about owning your presence, your perspective, and your power in a way that drives business and influence forward.


Ask yourself: Do people remember what you stand for? Do you show up with consistency, clarity, and confidence in every leadership interaction—be it a presentation, a pitch, or a panel discussion? Or are you still relying on titles and years of experience to make your impact?


Leadership today demands not just competence, but charisma. And charisma isn’t always natural—it can be cultivated. It’s not about being loud, it’s about being clear. Not about dominating the room, but about shaping the conversation. Your personal brand is the bridge between who you are and how the world sees you—and that perception can determine whether you’re seen as just another executive or the go-to voice in your industry.


This becomes even more critical in boardrooms where decisions are influenced by conviction, not just data. Your ability to advocate, negotiate, and inspire is directly tied to how you project yourself. Do people pause when you speak? Can your presence alone shift the tone of the room?


Personal branding at this level is also about legacy. Titles come and go, but the impression you leave behind can outlast your tenure. Building a strong personal brand allows you to create that lasting impact—not just on your organisation, but on the ecosystem you operate in. It builds trust, opens doors, and enables you to influence far beyond your position.


The question is no longer if personal branding matters for top-tier professionals, but how to master it without compromising authenticity or depth. And for those ready to step into that power, there’s an opportunity now.


On 18th of this month, I’m conducting an exclusive high-impact workshop titled "Boardroom Branding: Personal Visibility for Power and Influence." It’s designed specifically for board members, business owners, and CXOs who want to transform their silent leadership into undeniable influence.


This isn’t just another training. It’s a strategic shift in how you carry your leadership. If you’ve ever felt that your performance outpaces your recognition, or that your presence doesn’t match your potential—then this workshop might be exactly the clarity you need. Visibility at the top isn’t optional anymore. It’s the currency of modern leadership.


And for those willing to refine their voice, their presence, and their personal edge, now is the moment. Because the boardroom is watching. The industry is listening. And the spotlight doesn’t wait.


Want to know more or be a part of my workshop? Reach out to me on any of the following platforms:

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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