OFF THE RECORD review on some of the headlines….
At the onset, let me wish you all a very Happy New Year 2026 in advance.
Delhi’s rising influence in Maharashtra…
If 8 states were not enough, Maharashtra becomes the 9th state in the BJP led states, where the Chief Secretary (CS) has been sent from Delhi directly. Yes, jokingly I was telling an IAS friend who intends to become CS in the near future, that please go to Delhi and get yourself empaneled and work there for sometime because I don’t see anyone becoming Chief Secretary without Delhi’s approval at least in the near future as of now; our current CS Rajesh Aggarwal was Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities at the Center and had left Maharashtra when Devendra Fadnavis had become CM only to comeback in the state after a gap of many years; but even after a long gap Aggarwal is not taking his job lightly; heard he is very good and has taken full control of the system and also heard Secreataries are getting fired upon non-completion of their tasks or even simpler mistakes; this is what Delhi makes you; a no-nonsense person who wants to get the job done, so what if you are not an expert in that particular subject; discipline needs to be installed and power of CS should be shown at times; now I shall go one step ahead and tell you which is going on in my head after seeing this CS posting done; what if once Bhushan Gagrani retires from the MCGM commissioner post; will the new BMC commissioner post too will be suggested by Delhi? And similarly MMRDA too, CIDCO too? Good na, lobbying and horse trading will finally stop; so those of Maharashtra cadre working in Delhi, here is a chance to shine on now with your performance; and you could be it any side posting, don’t leave your hope– And here my dear bureaucrats, you might have best relations with the CM or any of the DCM, go to Delhi and spread your charm there… as it will be Delhi who will be calling shots in many sectors. Another one–IPS Sadanand Date makes a comeback FROM DELHI and might be the new DGP of Maharashtra…Delhi isn’t stopping…Delhi won’t be stopped!
Blue Blood of Maharashtra Politics-The Pawar Family !
Just the day before on my X account I had written about something and it really got viral. The context was Gautam Adani visiting Baramati, Pawar’s Den! I have been writing this since 2014 and I have also been closely monitoring NCP and the growth and importance it has achieved in the past 11 years till today. Have you people noticed, that whosoever comes in power in Maharashtra they don’t have a choice but to go with or form the government with NCP? When leaders like Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Eknath Shinde had their own share of battles to fight in these 11 years, only one party be it like this or like that, was always in power. A close friend in Pune was telling me, for us Punekars, who are deeply involved in politics, there was never a split in the NCP. Even today, Pawar’s have maintained cordial relations be it in public life or in their private affairs. The family photo after every family function speaks a 1000 words. You will never see Ajit Pawar or his sons criticising veteran Sharad Pawar or any family member nor Sharad Pawar or Supriya Sule have insulted Ajit on any platforms. I say this because even though today Thackeray’s have come together for BMC elections, time and again both estranged cousins have taken potshots at each other publicly; but Pawar’s have continued to maintain that decorum. Also lately in past 2 years, when there was a kind of uneasiness between Ekanth Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, never ever Ajit had a problem with DF; yes he had problems with Shinde but then this ‘ego clash’ has been going on ever since Eknath Shinde was the CM & he did not treat Ajit the way a DCM should have been dealt;. Now when Gautam Adani visited Baramati just a few days ago, for me it is clear, there are no ideological differences within the Pawar family, but there are adjustments which have to be made, which they do with great ease. Sharad Pawar maintains excellent terms with the Prime Minister, opposition leaders, Corporates even today, while Ajit has a firm command in the state and is with BJP. Supriya is set to be in Delhi in the near future whereas Ajit will be concentrating in the state, is what it is pointing as of now to me. Even though they have announced ‘alliance’ for the upcoming polls at Pimpri-Chinchwad, as per Punekar’s even I have started to feel, there were never separated; so it is simple and why don’t we accept, whosoever government Maharashtra sees from now on, it will be difficult to minus the Pawar factor. Aren’t these people then the blue-blood of Maharashtra politics?
Vikrant Meena Hemant Joshi.
