The Importance of Being Sharad Pawar
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be guaranteed and written into the law. — one who does not believe in turning And Mr Pawar would certainly not have political rivalries into personal feuds. He The importance of being Sharad Pawar dubbed as “liars”, those very people who has never used harsh language against were part of the government till last his political opponents even in election Mr Thackeray’s reply (“I don’t need les- the vortex of a storm beyond his control. strategy Mr Pawar did, of reaching out to month and have been the BJP’s longest rallies. In fact, he always tried to build sons on Hinduvta from you”) was rem- Then Chief of Army Staff, General S F the Opposition. The government is alliance partners, just because they are bridges with political opponents which iniscent of a retort by a rude 14-year old. Rodrigues had, in an interview to The huffing and puffing to convince farmers opposing farm reform now. is why, despite being in fierce But Mr Pawar’s complaint evoked some Pioneer newspaper, called politicians that abolition of Agricultural Produce Mr Pawar’s genius lies in choosing the competition for the number one slot in thought: What was he really trying to “bandicoots” and suggested a role for the Marketing Committees (APMCs) would battles he can fight — and turning away Maharashtra, he shared an excellent do? Distance himself pointedly from a army in governance, given that there was break the monopoly of vested interests. from the ones he can’t. After playing a personal rapport with Shiv Sena governor who swore in his nephew as so much “misgovernance” around. They needed only to have fallen at key role in dethroning Sitaram Kesari as supremo Bal Thackeray. To the point deputy chief minister in an early morn- Parliament was in session and George Mr Pawar’s feet, asking him to explain Congress president and inviting Sonia where in 2006 when his daughter ing coup expecting that Mr Pawar and Fernandes, Jaswant Singh and other this to the farmer community: Gandhi to lead the Congress, he left the Supriya was seeking election to the Rajya his band of MLAs would follow? Making Opposition leaders were absolutely Maharashtra liberated farmers from the Congress to form the Nationalist Sabha, he got a call from Balasaheb a point to the minority followers of the furious, seeking the general’s stranglehold of APMCs years ago with Congress Party (NCP) along with Tariq offering his support. “I have seen her PANDEMIC PERUSING government? Daring the Bharatiya resignation. There was nothing for it but the result that agro-processing Anwar and PA Sangma. The reason? The since she was a little girl, knee high. This Janata Party (BJP) to attack him? to apologise. It is here that Mr Pawar used enterprises were allowed to bypass foreign origins of Sonia Gandhi. But is a big step in her career. My party will ADITI PHADNIS Hinting that the Congress should also his outreach to the Opposition — he APMCs and buy raw material directly immediately after the 1999 Lok Sabha make sure she goes to Rajya Sabha stand up and be counted? called Jaswant Singh, said apologetically from the farmer. and Assembly elections he had no unopposed.” To his troubled query harad Pawar refuses to go away. He So many questions…because with that he wasn’t that strong on drafting and Mr Pawar writes in his biography that hesitation in joining hands with the about Sena’s alliance with the BJP in was moved enough to write a letter Sharad Pawar, you never can tell. For no sought his help in framing the apology. this became a win-win situation for both. Congress to form a government in Maharashtra, Balasaheb chuckled: “Oh Sto Prime Minister Narendra Modi, other politician have the lines kahin pe Obviously Jaswant Singh couldn’t refuse Farmers got authentic guidance from Maharashtra and becoming a minister in don’t worry about Kamalabai [“kamal”, on the conduct of Maharashtra nigaahen, kahin pe nishana been more — and the Opposition could hardly rail agro-processing units, higher and the United Progressive Alliance or lotus, being the BJP’s poll symbol]. Governor B S Koshyari that he found apt. Re-reading On My Terms, Sharad against an apology it had itself helped assured prices and a captive buyer. The government in 2004, where the She will do what I say”. “shocking and surprising”, after Pawar’s 2015 autobiography, brought it draft ! The matter could have escalated move encouraged contract farming and dominant party was the Sonia Gandhi- So his defence of the Uddhav Mr Koshyari had written to Chief all back, the multilayered talent of the (given that PV Narasimha Rao had only a ensured an adequate supply of raw led Congress. Thackeray government might not be Minister Uddhav Thackeray asking him man and all the incidents that were left slender majority in the Lok Sabha) but Mr materials to the processing units. This is And yet, when it comes to dealing some diabolical political strategy at all — if he was still a Hindutva votary and out of the book. When he was defence Pawar saved the day. probably why there is so little protest in with political rivals, Mr Pawar is a it might be nothing more than repaying why re-opening of temples was delayed. minister (1991), Mr Pawar was caught in If only the BJP had adopted the Maharashtra and no demand that MSP Congress politician cast in the old mould an old debt. .