Will Pawar's strategic reshuffle prove to be a masterstroke in 2014 polls?

Pawar has taken the decision only after a review of ministers’ work

The reshuffle of party ministers’ portfolios by NCP president Sharad Pawar is not an attempt to change the party image ahead of 2014 polls. The party’s image is not lowered or spoiled. Pawar carries regular audit of ministers’ work and calls meetings every six months. He has reviewed the performances of all the cabinet ministers and took the decision to reshuffle to improve performances. There is only one year left before the 2014 polls for the party to show its performance. According to a recent survey for Congress-NCP, the NCP graph showed a slight dip in voters’ choice. It is obvious that party is taking steps to strengthen itself before the upcoming assembly polls. The NCP will prove that it is secular.

Ankush Kakde, spokesperson, NCP, Maharashtra

Reshuffle has not touched the party heavyweights

Sharad Pawar is a politician, who has never taken any risk in his life accept once when he revolted against Sonia Gandhi’s leadership and formed the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). There is not much to Pawar carrying out reshuffle in the portfolios of party ministers. It is nothing but a diplomatic move. He has just touched the low-ranked ministers and not the party heavyweights. The upcoming 2014 elections will be the last opportunity for Pawar to show his power in Maharashtra and ask for a bigger stake at the Centre. Pawar has always groomed himself for the national platform, whereas Ajit Pawar has his strength in local leadership. Pawar knows that no party will not get the required lead in the upcoming polls. This reshuffle is a diplomatic attempt to change the party’s image ahead of the polls. In this reshuffle, it was expected that he will not touch Ajit Pawar and Chhagan Bhujbal. 

Kumar Saptarishi, founder, Yuvak Kranti Dal

Pawar has balanced the caste equation with the rejig

Pawar has brought change in cabinet with representation from Phaltan (Satara), which is the NCP’s stronghold. He has also made necessary adjustments and balanced the power between Laxman Dhobale and Vijaysingh Mohite- Patil considering the fact that Solapur is also important.  A cabinet change is an attempt to bring equal representation in NCP between the Marathas and OBCs and also fill the Adivasi post with Madhukar Pichad (independent). Pawar’s aim is to give his party a new face, balancing the caste equation among Marathas, OBCs and Adivasi groups. He has attempted to balance competition in Beed taluka, between Suresh Dhas and OBC candidate Jaidutta Kshirsagar. There was no big change in ministers from Konkan. A few ministers, who are alleged to be involved in corruption, have been reshuffled and candidates with a good reputation have been brought in the forefront. The reshuffle is an internal change, as OBC and ST candidates are increasing.        

Prakash Pawar, political science professor

It is a move for galvanising the NCP

The NCP ministers’ reshuffle was expected with the party president and founder Sharad Pawar facing multiple challenges. The primary concern for the NCP is to work towards strategising and galvanising the party for the national polls in 2014. The move to seek reshuffling of NCP ministers following the party supremo’s diktat calling for all the NCP ministers to resign assumes significance for various reasons. This development sends a clear-cut signal and reaffirmation that it is Sharad Pawar, who continues to hold the party’s reigns. The dropping of some of the ministers due to various issues, which include scams and public display of fortunes, while the state was reeling under drought doesn’t come as a surprise, as it is seen as a course correction. However, what has to be seen is whether this development merely indicates an attempt to refurbish the party image or a strategy to make in-road and reap electoral dividends in regions where the NCP needs to improve its grades or repeat its success. The retention of some of the scam-tainted ministers also highlights the logics and dilemmas related to support base and influence, which the party has carefully nurtured over the years. This development also may give some indications about the role and relevance of the second line of leadership which has been raring to seek prime space in the party hierarchy.

R Radhakrishnan, doctoral scholar, political science