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The Print
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
In Maharashtra, the wrestling mat is political turf, and Rohit Pawar's bout has just begun
Rohit Pawar, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Sharad Pawar, assumed the role of president of Maharashtra Rajya Kustigir Parishad (Maharashtra State Wrestling Association) last month. Octogenarian Pawar helmed the organisation for four decades. Rohit Pawar's unopposed election, however, is hardly undisputed. Just like Maharashtra's politics, its wrestling scene has also been on the boil, the former spilling over into the latter. With elections to urban and rural local bodies scheduled in the next few months across Maharashtra, the politics of wrestling is heating up. Mumbai: Rohit Pawar, MLA and grandnephew to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar, organised the 'Maharashtra Kesari', the state's most prestigious wrestling tournament, in his home district in March this year. It would have been nothing unusual, except for another 'Maharashtra Kesari'—organised by an association led by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ramdas Tadas—concluding less than two months ago. The Tadas-led Maharashtra Kustigir Sangh questions the very existence of the parishad, claiming to be the official wrestling body of Maharashtra. The parishad also has another faction, which went to the polls nearly two weeks before Rohit Pawar's election and formed its panel of office-bearers. Politically, there is a lot at stake. Wrestling is a popular sport in the rural areas of Maharashtra. It draws large crowds of spectators and the attention of sponsors, with organisers extracting significant mileage from these events. Moreover, wrestlers are like local celebrities in their villages and talukas, and close networking with them has always helped politicians on the ground. Several wrestlers, such as BJP's former MP Tadas and Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol, have themselves turned politicians. 'It was former CM Yashwantrao Chavan, who first gave a lot of impetus to local arts and sports from Maharashtra, and then, Sharad Pawar pushed sports, such as kho kho, kabaddi, and kusti (wrestling) to the next level. The Congress gained a lot of goodwill in the state from this,' said political commentator Hemant Desai. Pawar—then, a leader of Congress—formed the NCP in 1999. The party founder's position in the state's wrestling scene helped the NCP take root firmly in rural Maharashtra. 'Wrestling is very popular, especially in districts such as Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Pune in Western Maharashtra, where Congress, and later NCP, has been strong,' Desai said. 'Most wrestlers and their followers are from the agrarian Maratha community. The sugar factories in the belt have, over the years, supported wrestling contests. All of it helped build Sharad Pawar's politics. Now, we can see Rohit Pawar trying to walk the same path.' Karjat Jamkhed MLA Rohit Pawar did not respond to ThePrint's calls and text messages. Wrestling in politics It was Mamasaheb Mohol, a noted Indian wrestler, who founded the Maharashtra Rajya Kustigir Parishad and started the 'Maharashtra Kesari' wrestling tournament. Mamasaheb's popularity as a wrestler helped him build a career in politics. He used to oscillate between the Congress and the NCP. His son, Ashok Mohol—though not a wrestler—fought on NCP ticket and was an MP from Khed in Pune district from 1998 to 2004. 'Now, everyone goes to a modern gym, but earlier, when there were no gyms, people used to go to akharas for training in wrestling and strength. The sport was especially popular among the Bahujan Samaj and the Marathas. Wrestling had nothing to do with politics. But the games are quite popular and draw crowds. Soon, political karyakartas (party workers) got into the game, one way or another. Politicians realised that if they move around with a popular wrestler, people follow,' Anant Gadgil, a Pune-based Congress leader and former MLC, told ThePrint. Gadgil said the glamour of wrestling slightly reduced as more entertainment avenues became available over time. The popularity of the sport dipped in cities, but it still holds appeal in rural areas, he said. Wrestlers still have the clout to help politicians move the needle, even if slightly. For instance, when BJP leader Murlidhar Mohol contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Pune, wrestlers from across the district were a substantial part of his campaign. Mohol, now a Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, comes from a family of wrestlers, and he trained as one in Pune and Kolhapur before formally entering politics. A Congress leader who did not wish to be named said, 'In the run-up to the election, Murlidhar Mohol held a gathering of all members from the wrestling community. Many Congress workers ended up going because of the wrestling connection. There was a feeling within the party that our candidate against Mohol was not very strong, and many of our people ended up campaigning for Mohol due to his popularity within the wrestling circles.' For the same election, the first key battle for the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) after the 2022 split of the Shiv Sena, Thackeray picked a wrestler, Chandrahar Patil, to contest the Sangli parliamentary constituency. In his first campaign speech in front of Uddhav Thackeray, Chandrahar Patil announced that it was official that the 25 Maharashtra Kesaris and 11 Hind Kesaris in the crowd backed him. Politics and wrestling, he said, are often spoken of under the same breath, but so far, 'politicians have only used wrestlers for their benefit'. He lauded Uddhav Thackeray for not using wrestlers to campaign for him, and instead, picking him to contest. Ultimately, Patil lost the election amid infighting within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), an alliance of Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharadchandra Pawar-led NCP, and the Congress. A rebel Congress candidate, Vishal Patil, contesting as an Independent, who local Congress leaders like Vishwajeet Kadam backed, won the election, getting 48.91 percent of the vote share. Chandrahar Patil got 5.2 percent only. In June this year, Chandrahar Patil quit the Shiv Sena (UBT). Soon after, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena welcomed him with open arms, saying he came from a 'fake akhara to the real one'. 'In politics, we have beats. Some will handle the teachers' community and some will represent caste, religion, or specific communities to build a following for the party. Parties don't want to leave any beat uncovered. Pehelwan (wrestlers) is an important beat, the same way,' Rahul Londhe, a functionary from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, told ThePrint. 'Districts such as Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Pune, Dharashiv, Latur across Western Maharashtra and Marathwada, and some parts of Vidarbha still have the old traditional taleems (wrestler training centres) alive. This entire belt is a fort of pehelwans,' he added. Having networks in the wrestling community also helps mobilise people. Chandrahar Patil, for instance, got over a thousand wrestlers to participate in the Shinde-led Shiv Sena's 'Sindoor yatra' to commemorate Op Sindoor. These wrestlers boarded a train from Western Maharashtra to Jammu & Kashmir, visiting various places there and donating blood. Speaking to ThePrint, Ramdas Tadas, former BJP MP from Wardha, said his achievements as a wrestler introduced him to politics. 'It helps a lot on the ground to be associated with awards, such as 'Vidarbha Kesari' and 'Maharashtra Kesari'. Politicians like to tap wrestlers for campaigning and candidature,' he said. He added that, in a way, Rohit Pawar's election to the Maharashtra Rajya Kustigir Parishad is also Sharad Pawar's attempt to consolidate his hold on the goodwill associated with wrestlers for the NCP ahead of the upcoming local body polls. Also Read: BEST mess hints at cracks in Mahayuti govt as Fadnavis, Shinde's depts name different officers for post Politics in wrestling The politics around the wrestling body began around the same time that the Maharashtra political scene turned turbulent. In June 2022, the Shiv Sena split when Eknath Shinde, now Deputy CM, walked out with a majority of MLAs to join hands with the BJP and come to power in the state. In July 2022, the Wrestling Federation of India dissolved the Sharad Pawar-led parishad. It had a five-year tenure, scheduled to end in 2023. Speaking to ThePrint, Tadas said that he and a few others often heard complaints about irregularities in the parishad's functioning, including delays in holding certain competitions, during Sharad Pawar's tenure. 'Despite flagging it several times, he [Sharad Pawar] did not take action, so we took it up with the Wrestling Federation of India, which dissolved the committee,' Tadas said. Around this time, Tadas and his associates established the Maharashtra Kustigir Sangh, which, he told ThePrint, now has the official approval of the Wrestling Federation of India. Those familiar with Maharashtra's wrestling scene said that the sangh set up by Tadas and associates had a clear influence of the BJP and Mahayuti loyalists and sympathisers. Tadas, who heads the sangh, said, 'The parishad has no relevance. We now have the official Maharashtra Kesari. We are the ones who send our wrestlers to national competitions.' The Pawar-led parishad legally challenged the Wrestling Federation of India's decision to dissolve the committee. The Bombay High Court, in November 2022, ruled that the decision to dissolve the elected committee was 'illegal.' However, the court has so far not resolved the question of whether the Maharashtra Rajya Kustigir Parishad prevails, or the Maharashtra Kustigir Sangh, which has been pitching players to wrestling national and international competitions, prevails as the official federation of the state. Meanwhile, the parishad has been divided into two factions. 'Some Sangh members engineered factionalism in the parishad. They want to show that the parishad is not stable. However, we have followed norms and conducted our elections. Thirty-three of the total 43 functional local-level wrestling units are enlisted with us,' Vijay Barate, the newly elected secretary of the Rohit Pawar-led kustigir parishad, told ThePrint. 'The kustigir sangh, made of mainly people leaning towards the BJP, is trying to take control of the wrestling administration entirely, so that they can hold glamorous competitions and use local wrestlers for their political goodwill, but in the end, our players are the ones suffering.' On 25 June this year, Sharad Pawar sent a letter to all district wrestling associations on the elections to the parishad, announcing that the polls would take place 26 and 27 July. A retired judge of the Bombay High Court will act as the returning officer. The other faction is steered by the kustigir parishad's ex-general secretary, Babasaheb Landge, who conducted an election 16 July and set up a committee. On 3 July, Sharad Pawar sent Landge a letter, calling the 16 July poll illegal and directing Landge to explain the reasons for the 'outright violation of duties, roles and power'. On 26 and 27 July, the kustigir parishad conducted elections under the instruction of Pawar. 'From our point of view, the 16 July election was not illegal at all,' said Santosh Machutre, an office-bearer of the Pimpri Chinchwad Kustigir Sangh and supporter of Hanumant Gawde, who has emerged as the Landge faction's president. 'All districts support us. Our election was held, according to the guidelines, overseen by a retired judge. Hanumanth Gawde is an original pehelwan. He knows the game as well as the issues, closely. Our president is not one who only organises games and stands on the stage. We are people who constantly think about the wrestlers' benefit,' Machutre told ThePrint. 'Every leader wants to preserve their existence. All this factionalism is a result of that,' Machutre added. The faction, he said, took up the matter about Sharad Pawar declaring its elections 'illegal' with the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner's office. Seniors in Maharashtra's wrestling arena now lament the seepage of party politics into wrestling administration, which has only created confusion in the game, with the players bearing the brunt. 'The kustigar parishad holds its 'Maharashtra Kesari'; the kustigir sangh holds its 'Maharashtra Kesari'. They say that if you don't participate in the events we host, we won't send you to nationals. It should be players running the association, not politicians,' Shrikrishna Barate, an old-timer in the wrestling circuit, told ThePrint. 'Politicians shouldn't introduce politics into the game. They should instead help in holding camps and give financial aid to players, most of whom come from very humble backgrounds.' Barate himself has been a long-time Congress worker, but swears that he never brought politics into the game. Even during Murlidhar Mohol's campaign—he said—the BJP leader asked him to deliver a speech, but 'I told him I will steer clear of politics and only talk about what can be done for the game. And that's exactly what I did.' Meanwhile, the Rohit Pawar-led committee has shrugged off any criticism of not being the official wrestling body. The newly elected committee held its first meeting Sunday at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai in the presence of Sharad Pawar as a mentor. 'We have started our work. There's merit in our case, and we are sure we will eventually get justice in court too,' Vijay Barate said. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: How a new Pawar is becoming a big headache for Maharashtra govt, with a senior Pawar's blessing
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Look beyond Maharashtra Kesari, aim for Olympic medals: CM Fadnavis to state wrestlers
1 2 3 4 Nagpur: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis wanted the Maharashtra Kesari wrestlers to aim higher and bring the glory of legendary Khashaba Jadhav back to the state by winning a medal in the next Olympic Games. Fadnavis was speaking during the inauguration of the Chief Minister's Cup U-15 National Wrestling Championship, which began at the indoor stadium of Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur on Saturday. On a query raised by Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Sanjay Kumar Singh regarding the performance of senior Maharashtra grapplers compared to their junior counterparts, Fadnavis said that state wrestlers get satisfied after becoming Maharashtra Kesari. Fadnavis wanted the state wrestlers to change that mindset and remained hopeful that in the next Olympic Games, Maharashtra grapplers will win medals for the country. He said that the state govt is committed to bringing international coaches for excellent training and updating necessary infrastructure to fully support the wrestlers. Fadnavis said, "Efforts will be made to involve institutions, foundations, and the corporate sector to make wrestling more professional and glamorous in Maharashtra. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Like kabaddi, wrestling is played across all the small regions of Maharashtra, and it is time to show the world our true value." Speaking further, he emphasised the govt's focus on wrestling competitions and highlighted the importance of sports and participation. Fadnavis said Maharashtra's young sportspersons were performing well at the National Games and Khelo India. As far as wrestling is concerned, the junior wrestlers are doing well. But the senior wrestlers are not getting recognition at the international level. Fadnavis wanted the state wrestling association to look into the matter and take all the necessary help from the Maharashtra govt. In his introductory remark, President of the Organising Committee and MLC Sandip Joshi said, "Looking at the success of Nagpur's first national championship, the city is all set and ready to host international wrestling competition." Joshi also asked the CM's approval to build a small multi-sport stadium on the municipal corporation land near Manish Nagar. President of Maharashtra Wrestling Association Ramdas Tadas said that in 2026, Wardha will host the senior national wrestling championship. Minister of state for finance and planning Ashish Jaiswal, President of WFI Sanjay Kumar Singh, former MP Tadas, MLC Kripal Tumare, Working President Sandip Bhondwe, state minister Pankaj Bhoyar, President of Vidarbha Wrestling Association Sanjay Tirathkar, Hindkesri Yogesh Dhoke, Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijit Choudhary, and others shared the dais. Earlier the members of Amit Yoga Group won the hearts of the audience by presenting thrilling yoga demonstrations. Fadnavis appreciated the performance on the occasion of International Yoga Day.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Fake arena': Ahead of Maharashtra civic polls, UBT strongman Chandrahar Patil joins Shinde camp
THANE: Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde took a pointed jab at the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction on Monday, referring to it as a 'fake arena' and reminded his supporters how he floored his political rivals during the 2022 rebellion. Shinde was speaking late Monday at an induction event in Thane, where two-time Maharashtra Kesari winner and prominent UBT leader Chandrahar Patil from Western Maharashtra joined the Shiv Sena along with several supporters from western Maharashtra. The defection comes ahead of key municipal elections, adding to the list of high-profile exits from the UBT camp. 'Today, you've stepped out of a fake arena and into the real one. You've left behind the company of the cunning for that of the sincere,' Shinde told Patil. 'Though I am not a wrestler, in 2022 I floored my opponents so thoroughly that they still haven't got back on their feet,' he added, in a veiled reference to the UBT leadership. Recalling the period following his rebellion, Shinde said, 'I was targeted with daily accusations and insults. But instead of retaliating with words, I responded through action. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo That work earned me the people's trust and support in the assembly elections.' He emphasised that the Sena under his leadership remains committed to the ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray. 'This is not a party of mockery and arrogance. It's a party built by and for grassroots workers. Balasaheb treated his colleagues as equals, but after him, some began treating workers like subordinates. They forgot that pride doesn't last forever.'
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandrahar Patil shifts from Thackeray to Shinde camp
MUMBAI: In a major embarrassment for Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, his Lok Sabha candidate from Sangli constituency, Chandrahar Patil, joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde at Thane on Monday. Patil, a wrestler who had won the state championship Maharashtra Kesari, was fielded from the south-west Maharashtra constituency by Thackeray and Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. The two had made Sangli a prestige issue even though Congress was unwilling to part with its traditional seat. Eventually, Congress rebel Vishal Patil won as an independent defeating sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sanjaykaka Patil, while Chandrahar Patil finished a poor third. After joining Sena, Patil claimed that the Opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had united to defeat him in Lok Sabha. 'I didn't step back. I got 60,000 votes from Sangli. It is not big figure in Lok Sabha polls where people get two to three lakh votes and win. But I got votes amidst bigwigs and leaders from political dynasties,' he said. Patil's induction ceremony was attended by minister Uday Samant, MLA Suhas Babar, the party's secretary Ram Repale, and actor-turned-politician Dipali Syed. Welcoming Patil into the party, Shinde said: 'Today, he has stepped out of a fake (akhada) arena and into the real one.'
Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Setback for Sena (UBT) as ‘Kesari' Chandrahar Patil joins Shiv Sena
In yet another setback to Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), two-time winner of Maharashtra Kesari wrestling tournament and former Lok Sabha candidate from Sangli Chandrahara Patil on Monday joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. At the formal induction ceremony held in Thane, Shinde took a dig at the Sena (UBT) leadership without taking names. Welcoming Patil into the party, Shinde said, 'You have moved from a fake arena (Sena UBT) to the real battleground (Shinde led Sena). You are coming from those who play tricks to those who play with a clean heart.' He praised Patil for his achievements in traditional wrestling and compared political strategy to wrestling moves. Other who joined the party along with Patil included Santosh Aba Vetal (first Hind Kesari from Satara), wrestler Vikas Patil and sarpanch Sagar Vanjari of Saygaon. Patil, who was once seen as a close aide of Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, contested the Lok Sabha elections on a Shiv Sena (UBT) ticket from Sangli constituency and lost. His candidature had become a major flashpoint in the fragile Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, as Congress and Sena (UBT) struggled to come to terms on seat-sharing. Both the Congress and the Sena UBT were vying for the Sangli seat. However, since Patil had joined Sena UBT just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the party was keen keen on contesting from the Sangli seat and that had strained the relations between the two alliance partners. Chandrahar Patil's shift to the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde is now being viewed as both symbolic and strategic, potentially opening up new political alignments ahead of the upcoming civic body elections.
