Changing Pawar equation

The appointment of Shinde has been seen as an attempt to revive the Congress’ traditional upper caste-Dalit alliance. But it is as yet unclear whether caste alone will be able to create a new identity for a party in urgent need of renewal.

It is piquant that in the state where Jotirao Phule began what is perceived as the modern Dalit movement and where B.R. Ambedkar achieved his largest following, Sushil Kumar Shinde is only the first Dalit chief minister.

Politics in the state has been dominated by the Marathas and in consolidating his own position among the powerful Maratha cliques, Shinde might need to build bridges with his mentor-turned-foe, Sharad Pawar.

A great deal of responsibility sits on his shoulders. Not only must the new chief minister begin a process of creating new coalitions to take on the forces of Hindutva, he must also rescue the sharply declining economy and deal with the precarious law and order situation.

His experience will stand him in good stead. In a long political tenure, Shinde has resisted the temptation to play the politics of caste. Starting life as a court bailiff, then a sub-inspector of police, before rising to become the Congress’ vice-presidential candidate last year, the career of Shinde illustrates that in India, politics continues to be an avenue of tremendous upward mobility. Shinde is an embodiment of a democratic society and there is so far no reason to believe that he may not rise to the challenges ahead of him.