In view of the assembly elections to be held in Maharashtra next year, all political parties have started preparations. In this episode Maharashtra BJP is again working on MADHAV formula. Due to this, the party is mainly focusing on strengthening the OBC category of Mali, Dhangar and Vanjari (Banjara) community. The move to change the name of Ahmednagar to Ahilyanagar is part of the same strategy.
Actually, Queen Ahilyadevi Holkar is a symbol of courage, charity and religious work. The Dhangar community worships her like a god. The Dhangar community plays an important role in Kolhapur, Sangli, Solapur, Pune, Akola, Parbhani, Nanded and Yavatmal districts. The Dhangar community is present in about 100 assembly constituencies. On the other hand, if experts are to be believed, the people of this community have a decisive vote share in more than 40 assembly constituencies.
Let us tell you that in 2014, late Gopinath Munde worked tirelessly for the alliance of Dhangar, Mali and Vanjara leaders. BJP also got a good advantage of this in the elections. In its manifesto in 2014, the BJP had promised to give Scheduled Tribe status to the Dhangar community. But due to technical reasons, former CM Fadnavis did not fulfill the promise. However, instead the party gave a cabinet ministry to Rashtriya Samaj Party chief Mahadev Jankar, a strong Dhangar leader and a close associate of the Munde family.
Soon after 2014, the BJP leadership inducted dozens of Maratha leaders into the party to expand the party in the state. OBC leaders believe that after the elections, Maratha leaders also got more importance in the party. Prior to this, the Congress and NCP were dominated by the Maratha leadership for a long time. OBC leadership in BJP also felt neglected. No leader has been seen in mainstream politics since Vasantrao Bhagwat in the 80s.
Although BJP is known for its upper class leadership, but to change the image of the party and make vote politics viable, Vasantrao Bhagwat with the help of Late Gopinath Munde, Pramod Mahajan, Pandurang Fundkar, Mahadev Shivankar and others (Mali, Dhangar, Vanjari) successfully used the formula.
Now after the Karnataka defeat, the BJP leadership is wary of social engineering and is going back to the old MADHAV formula to woo the OBCs in Maharashtra. Apart from the Munde sisters in Marathwada, the BJP has also decided to promote Bhagwat Karad to the post of minister at the Centre. In Maharashtra, OBC leader Atul Save is looking after the Ministry of Bahujan Welfare and Cooperation. Even the command of Maharashtra BJP is with OBC leader and former minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. He has been made the party president.
