New ‘Dada’ on rise in state politics?

At a time when the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA appears more occupied with survival than expansion one leader seems determined not to disappear from public view Whether it is the onion farmersrsquo agitation paper leak controversies civic issues allegations of money power in elections or almost any issue capable of generating political traction NCPSP MLA Rohit Pawar is usually thereThe question is not whether he is active The question is whyIs Rohit Pawar genuinely emerging as the most energetic Opposition leader in Maharashtra Or is he simply occupying a vacuum created by an Opposition that appears fragmented cautious and often absent from the political battlefieldThe question has become more relevant because visibility matters in modern politics The leader who is seen often becomes the leader who is heard And at a time when the Oppositionrsquos collective voice appears weak Rohit Pawarrsquos individual voice appears unusually loudInterestingly Pawar himself may have offered a clue to his political approachDuring a conversation with journalists in the Vidhan Bhavan complex he was once asked whether he would raise a particular issue inside the legislature His response was telling Pawar replied ldquoWhere is the Opposition allowed to speakrdquo before suggesting that the real battle now lies in the court of public opinion rather than inside the HouseThat statement says much about both his politics and the current state of the OppositionFor decades Opposition leaders measured their effectiveness through speeches in the Assembly legislative interventions and debates on the floor of the House Pawar appears to have adopted a different model His politics is increasingly centred outside the legislature and among the people Whether by choice or necessity he seems to believe that protests public campaigns and media attention generate greater impact than speeches inside the AssemblyThat strategy has certainly ensured visibilityFrom students upset over examination irregularities to farmers angry over falling onion prices Pawar has consistently tried to place himself at the centre of public issues Even his recent remarks alleging that money was changing hands ahead of the MLC elections ensured that the conversation remained alive for another news cycleBut does visibility automatically translate into leadershipThat is where the debate beginsSupporters argue that he is doing what an Opposition leader is supposed to do mdash raise issues challenge the government and remain among the people They point out that many senior Opposition leaders are busy rebuilding their organisations after the Shiv Sena and NCP splits leaving a vacuum that younger leaders must fillCritics see a different picture They argue that there is a fine line between Opposition politics and perpetual campaigning Being present at every protest may create headlines but does it create political capital Does it strengthen an organisation More importantly does it convince voters that a leader is ready for larger responsibilitiesThese questions are particularly relevant because Maharashtra has never lacked leaders who could dominate headlines What has often separated successful leaders from the rest is their ability to build durable political structuresThe Shiv Sena under Bal Thackeray was more than a charismatic leader The BJPrsquos rise was built on decades of organisational work Even Sharad Pawarrsquos political influence extended beyond speeches and protests to a carefully cultivated network across the stateThat is the benchmark any aspiring leader must eventually meetFor Rohit Pawar the challenge is even more interesting because of his surname For decades Maharashtra politics has had one ldquoDadardquo in the Pawar family mdash Ajit Pawar The title represented authority influence and administrative control Today supporters increasingly refer to Rohit Pawar as ldquoRohit Dadardquo The comparison may be premature but politics thrives on symbolismIs Maharashtra witnessing the emergence of another Dada from the Pawar clan Or is this simply the natural rise of a younger politician trying to establish himself in a changing political landscapeThe answer is not yet clearWhat is clear however is that Rohit Pawar has identified an opportunity As the Opposition struggles to define itself after a series of political setbacks he has stepped into the spotlight Whether by design or circumstance he has become one of the most visible faces challenging the ruling Mahayuti governmentThe real test however lies ahead Raising questions is easier than answering them Leading protests is easier than governing If political equations change tomorrow and greater responsibilities come his way voters will judge him not by the number of agitations he led but by the solutions he can provideFor now Rohit Pawar remains an interesting political story He may be filling a leadership vacuum He may be building a personal brand He may even be laying the foundation for a larger role in Maharashtra politicsOr perhaps he is simply the loudest voice in an Opposition that has yet to find its collective oneEither way he has succeeded in ensuring that people are asking the questionSanjeev Shivadekar is political editor midday He tweets SanjeevShivadekSend your feedback to mailbagmiddaycomThe views expressed in this column are the individualrsquos and donrsquot represent those of the paper