The political landscape in Maharashtra reflects two contrasting but surprisingly similar tendencies in its leading alliances. On one hand, the INDIA Alliance is dominated by parties that operate under dynastic rule, where power is concentrated in the hands of a few families. On the other hand, the BJP, despite claiming to stand against nepotism, has consistently fielded candidates from prominent political families, making it difficult for new independent voices to rise within its ranks. This creates a paradox for voters, as both sides exhibit the same pattern of familial dominance in their leadership and candidate selection.
The INDIA Alliance, or Maha Vikas Aghadi, is a prime example of dynastic politics, with each party controlled by a single family. These families manage the party by nurturing loyalists and hard-working individuals, but they ensure that none of them rise beyond a certain level of influence. When the alliance comes to power, these trusted loyalists are given high-ranking positions, but the real power remains with the family leaders, who control key decisions from behind the scenes. When it’s time to assume leadership, the family members take center stage, often sidelining more competent or deserving individuals within their ranks.
The formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra was the result of a political maneuver aimed at placing a specific leader—Uddhav Thackeray—as Chief Minister, regardless of whether he had the necessary experience or administrative capabilities. Despite leading a state with a population of 12 crore (120 million) and a budget running into lakhs of crores, Uddhav Thackeray had no prior experience in governance. While dynastic politics is often simplified by the unquestioning authority of the leader, where orders are followed without scrutiny, the challenges of governing a state like Maharashtra exposed the limits of this model.
Though Uddhav Thackeray’s tenure was marked by controversies, it’s important to note that his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was widely praised. In fact, the Supreme Court recognized Maharashtra’s pandemic response as a successful model. However, his administration faced significant challenges, including his own health issues, which limited his ability to lead effectively. In a state where Chief Ministers are known to work long hours, the rare instances of Thackeray’s presence in office during the lockdown were heavily scrutinized. Despite this, he was declared one of the better Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, though dissatisfaction within certain sections of the state persisted.
Thackeray’s tenure, however, also included several high-profile incidents of governance failure. These included the assault on a retired naval officer for criticizing the government, the jailing of journalists, the vandalizing of actresses’ homes, the illegal detention of a union minister, the brutal murder of monks in Palghar, and a scandal involving law enforcement officers planting explosives outside the home of a prominent businessman. The involvement of the home minister in an extortion scandal further revealed the chaotic nature of Uddhav Thackeray’s rule, leading to widespread criticism and unease among Maharashtra’s citizens.
On the other side, the BJP, despite its rhetoric against dynastic politics, has increasingly fielded candidates from political families. The party’s first list for the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Elections highlights this trend. For instance, Bandra West MLA Ashish Shelar and his brother Vinod Shelar are both running for seats—Ashish from Bandra West and Vinod from Malad West. Sulabha Gaikwad, wife of jailed MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, has been fielded from Kalyan East, even though her husband is currently in jail for allegedly firing at a Shiv Sena member inside a police station. Another example is Amol Jawale, son of former BJP MP Haribhau Jawale, who will be contesting from Raver, despite his previous discontent with the party fielding Raksha Khadse, another candidate with political lineage. In Ahmednagar, Pratibha Pachpute, wife of sitting MLA Babanrao Pachpute, has been selected as the BJP candidate from Shrigonda.
These examples show that while the BJP claims to reject dynastic politics, in practice, it often follows the same pattern. Many of its candidates come from political families, and new, independent candidates without family connections or political “godfathers” struggle to break through.
Thus, Maharashtra’s political landscape presents voters with a challenge: on one side, the Grand Alliance is led by dynasties that have held power for decades, and on the other, the BJP, despite its anti-dynasty stance, appears to prioritize family connections in its candidate selection. In this scenario, the voter must be discerning and cast their vote wisely, considering not just the rhetoric, but the reality of the political choices before them.
