Rohit Pawar edges closer to Congress

Pawar put up several hoardings and also slammed the BJP on his social media handle following clashes between activists from the student wings of the Congress and BJP in Pune on the eve of Gandhi’s programme. “The direction of wind in the country is changing

During Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Pune for the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme on August 22, hoardings put up by Nationalist Congress Party–Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP–SP) legislator Rohit Pawar welcoming Gandhi became a talking point.

Rohit Pawar edges closer to Congress

Pawar put up several hoardings and also slammed the BJP on his social media handle following clashes between activists from the student wings of the Congress and BJP in Pune on the eve of Gandhi’s programme. “The direction of wind in the country is changing... the shop of love is doing splendidly..! Here, it’s not the voice of the heart but the voice of the people that is heard…!” he wrote soon after the programme ended.

This has now sparked speculation over whether the grand-nephew of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar is set to join the Congress in the coming days.

Amid talk of the Pawar-led NCP (SP) joining the NDA coalition, Rohit was the only leader from the party who publicly said that the party would not go with the BJP. According to party insiders, he has opposed any such move in the party’s internal meetings as well. His close aides say Rohit has already got in touch with the Congress leadership.

“There is no doubt he is inching closer to Congress. If the party leadership decides to join hands with BJP, he would be the first NCP (SP) leader to join the Congress,” said a party leader considered close to him.

The rising graph of Vinod Tawde

The graph of senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde, who shifted to national politics after 2019, seems to be on the rise. After he was given charge of poll-bound Bihar, Tawde showed his utility as the party won the election in alliance with Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (U) and also emerged as the largest party in the crucial north Indian state.

Tawde, who has a good understanding of caste equations, learnt his political skills from none other than late Pramod Mahajan and put them to use in Bihar. He was rewarded by the party leadership with a Rajya Sabha berth in April this year. Now, he has been put in charge of Uttar Pradesh, which goes to the polls early next year. Retaining power in the state is politically significant for the BJP in the run-up to the next general elections.

For Tawde, this could be the biggest challenge of his life. Some time ago, there were rumours that he could return to state politics in case Devendra Fadnavis shifts to New Delhi in an important position in the Modi government. However, he recently told some of his close aides that he does not see any such chances, with him being in charge of UP, and later expects to be part of the party team handling the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Rane-Raut truce

Last week, during a hearing on a defamation case filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut against former chief minister and BJP MP Narayan Rane in Mazgaon court, the latter’s lawyer proposed a settlement between the two sides.

The case was filed by Raut after Rane apparently made a public statement in January 2023 claiming that he had looked after the expenditure of Raut’s election as Rajya Sabha MP when he was in Shiv Sena and that Raut was not even on the voters’ list.

Raut, it seems, provided proof that his name figured in the voters’ list. Raut’s lawyer has told the court that the MP would consider Rane’s proposal.

While Raut did not comment on it, his party colleagues say he is likely to settle the issue with Rane. Significantly, speaking with mediapersons a few days ago, Raut said that one thing he appreciates about Rane was that the latter “did not grab the party like Mindhe (as deputy CM Eknath Shinde is called by Sena (UBT) leaders)” when he broke away from Shiv Sena in 2005.

Dinner diplomacy

Amid the power tussle between the three partners, the ruling Mahayuti coalition is organising a dinner meet for legislators, ministers and prominent leaders of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP. It is likely to be held on August 25 and is aimed at reducing friction between the three parties.

According to ruling camp insiders, the leaders of Mahayuti feel that they need to put up a united front.

The ruling coalition’s response to the Gen Z protests was scattered, and the partners Sena and NCP did not feel any need to defend the BJP, which they think is bullying them. In fact, Sena leaders such as social justice minister Sanjay Shirsat even met Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and congratulated him following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union education minister.

At the dinner, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will guide the legislators from the three parties in the context of the current political situation, it is learnt.