Amid the Congress attack following the Anti Corruption Bureau ACB trap of an FDA clerk inside Mantralaya, Minister for Food and Drugs Administration Narhari Zirwal finds himself back in the political spotlight. A five time MLA from the tribal dominated Dindori constituency in Nashik district, Zirwal is one of the prominent tribal faces of the Ajit Pawar led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party.
Born and raised in the tribal belt of Nashik, the 65-year-old leader began his political journey in the 1980s as an activist with the Janata Dal, which then had a strong presence in the region. He went on to serve two terms in the local Panchayat Samiti, first on a Janata Dal ticket and later on a Congress ticket, before joining the NCP. He was first elected to the Maharashtra Assembly from Dindori in 2004. Though he narrowly lost the 2009 election by just 149 votes, he returned to consolidate his position as a key tribal leader in north Maharashtra.
Known to be soft spoken and well versed in tribal and agricultural issues, Zirwal’s political trajectory has been closely linked to Ajit Pawar. He came into national focus during the dramatic 2019 episode when Ajit Pawar briefly aligned with the BJP to form a government in Maharashtra. Zirwal was among the NCP MLAs present at the early morning swearing in at Raj Bhavan. He later returned to the Sharad Pawar camp, saying at the time, “After my parents, Sharad Pawar, he is the one who has played a formative role in my life. I can’t betray him.”
In March 2020, after the Maha Vikas Aghadi government took charge, Zirwal was elected unopposed as Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly. When the Speaker’s post fell vacant in 2021, he began discharging the Speaker’s duties under Assembly rules, placing him at the centre of the political churn during the Shiv Sena split. He issued disqualification notices to 16 rebel MLAs including Eknath Shinde and cleared the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as leader of the Sena in the Assembly.
Following the split in the NCP in 2023, Zirwal sided with Ajit Pawar when the latter joined the BJP led Mahayuti government, a decision that created unease among sections of his traditional support base in the tribal belt.
Zirwal subsequently went on an overdrive to placate his support base. In October 2024, Zirwal again grabbed headlines when he jumped from the third floor of Mantralaya onto safety nets during a protest over tribal reservation and recruitment issues. The dramatic act reinforced his image as a leader willing to take public positions on tribal concerns, even at the risk of embarrassment to his own government.
In the run up to the Assembly elections, his position within the ruling alliance also appeared strained. Tensions surfaced when sections of his ally, the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, attempted to field a rival candidate in Dindori and reportedly even sent “AB” nomination forms to a prospective nominee before eventually withdrawing.
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Zirwal’s re election bid has also faced murmurs of discontent within the NCP. Mounting an aggressive campaign, he had then warned his Mahayuti allies as well as leaders of his own NCP that any attempt to “sabotage” his candidacy could “hurt” their nominees’ prospects in other constituencies.
“There are 72 seats across Maharashtra where tribals make up between zero and 20% of the electorate. If people see me as a leader who has worked for them, it could influence those voters. I know how little it takes to change an election result. I once lost by only 149 votes,” Zirwal had said.
This political brinkmanship appeared to work. Zirwal retained Dindori for a fifth term and was subsequently inducted into the cabinet as Minister for Food and Drugs Administration, cementing his position as the tribal face of the Ajit Pawar faction within the Mahayuti government.
But the arrest of a clerk from his own office inside Mantralaya has once again cast a shadow over his political career.HL: From Mantralaya jump to ACB storm: Narhari Zirwal back in eye of controversy.
Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas:
Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai.
Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC).
Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai).
Trustworthiness & Credibility
Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence.
Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers).
Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports.
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