The support for Uddhav Thackeray after the Shiv Sena split has not been tested in a proper election, besides a few bypolls, which too have shown mixed results.
Those who understand Sharad Pawar's working style cite the example of how he has, at different times, made leaders such as Chhagan Bhujbal, RR Patil and Jayant Patil Deputy Chief Ministers of the state, emphasising on responsibilities to keep the party united.
AdvertisementThe succession move is Sharad Pawar's best play for a future gameplan. It will also help his supporters get down to the brass tacks for actual electoral battles, starting with 2024, while he can be the guiding force to mobilise a divided opposition. Sharad Pawar is perhaps the only leader to have a cordial relationship with all opposition parties, and a persuasive one with parties that have reservations about the Congress, such as Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the Samajwadi Party (SP).
According to an opposition party leader, it was Sharad Pawar who expressed his concerns about Rahul Gandhi's constant invoking of Veer Savarkar at a meeting attended by several political parties. He emphasized that this was needlessly placing their ally Shiv Sena(UT) in a spot, and should be avoided.
Understanding Pawar's Politics
It has always been difficult to comprehend Mr Pawar's moves, but many of them have been well-crafted and have proven to be politically intuitive. Be it leaving the Congress in 1999 and forming a new party, to allying with the Congress in a post-poll tie-up, making it difficult for the BJP to even finish a term, to maintaining good equations with the BJP brass, Mr Pawar's actions have been a mystery to many.
The announcement by Mr Pawar also removes the uncertainty over Ms Sule's political career. The 53-year-old MP from Baramati, who has constantly been adjudged among the most active parliamentarians, has raised very important questions ranging from financial literacy in school curriculum, to data privacy, energy and organic waste, public health and other topics. She introduced a bill in parliament on legalising same-sex marriages, and even pushed for two years' maternity leave for women, like in many developed Scandinavian countries.
It is not often that politicians have chosen their daughters to inherit their legacy and party, and in a political climate that is anti-dynasty, it is not easy to. However, in politics, the fight over legacy has always been tilted in favour of the offspring, instead of the nephew. The succession stories of Balasaheb Thackeray and Mulayam Singh Yadav are some examples of that.
Mr Pawar's succession announcement also makes it clear that while legacy is important to him, he is insulated from decisions the party makes in the future. This is why he had the foresight to put a plan in place, and perhaps hopes his political wisdom will take care of the rest.
