From Political Wilderness to Bihar Triumph
Three years after being appointed as the Bharatiya Janata Party's national general secretary in charge of Bihar, Vinod Tawde has delivered a resounding victory for the National Democratic Alliance in the state assembly elections. The landslide win marks a significant personal and political achievement for Tawde, who had faced political setbacks in his home state of Maharashtra before this assignment.
The Bihar Challenge and Strategic Breakthrough
For Tawde, who had worked exclusively in Maharashtra politics for over three decades, Bihar presented unfamiliar territory and substantial challenges. His first major breakthrough came when he played a crucial role in dismantling the Janata Dal (United)-Rashtriya Janata Dal alliance led by then Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
This strategic move paved the way for Kumar's return to the NDA fold, recreating the JD(U)-BJP alliance that continues with Kumar as chief minister. Tawde's patient approach and organizational skills proved instrumental in maintaining this crucial partnership through the recent elections.
A Political Journey Marked by Highs and Lows
Vinod Tawde's political career began with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, and he quickly rose through BJP ranks in Maharashtra. Mentored by late leaders Pramod Mahajan and Gopinath Munde, Tawde held significant positions including general secretary (organisation) in Maharashtra BJP in 1995, becoming the youngest president of BJP's Mumbai unit in 1999, and serving as Opposition leader in the state Legislative Council from 2011 to 2014.
His electoral debut came in 2014 from Borivali constituency in western Mumbai, a BJP stronghold. However, the 2019 Assembly polls brought an unexpected setback when he was denied a ticket at the last moment, leaving him in political wilderness.
Unlike other leaders who publicly expressed discontent, Tawde quietly continued working for the party, even assisting Sunil Rane, who replaced him in Borivali. This patience was rewarded in 2021 when he made a comeback as national general secretary in J P Nadda's Delhi team.
Delhi Assignment and Future Prospects
Tawde's transition to Delhi politics came against his wishes but proved strategically important. His performance in Bihar has reportedly impressed the BJP central leadership, with party insiders suggesting he might be entrusted with responsibilities in Uttar Pradesh ahead of upcoming Assembly elections.
The Bihar victory represents vindication for Tawde's patient approach to party work. Following his 2021 appointment, he had remarked that in the BJP, one should focus on work and patience would be rewarded. The massive NDA win in Bihar, where the alliance crossed the 200-seat mark, proves this philosophy correct.
Tawde gracefully attributed the victory to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nitish Kumar, and teamwork, stating he merely executed the tasks assigned by the party to the best of his abilities. He emphasized that the scale of victory in the Hindi heartland represents a significant development that will impact national politics.
His political journey hasn't been without controversies, including allegations during the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections about a cash-for-votes scam, which he vehemently denied and responded to with defamation notices to Congress leaders.
Nevertheless, the Bihar success establishes Tawde as a strategist capable of delivering results in challenging political landscapes, potentially opening new chapters in his political career beyond Maharashtra.
