Author: Ramesh Patange
Publication: Mumbai Tarun Bharat
Date: October 24, 2014

Dear Pankaja Tai,

Maharashtra Assembly elections just concluded.  No doubt you played a vital role in the BJP victory. You really created awareness among society by launching the ‘Sangharsh Yatra’.  You worked hard for creating a congenial atmosphere to for the BJP, Congratulations for that! The Sangharsha Yatra always reminds us of Mr. Gopinath Munde. I was one of the persons who drafted this Sangharsh Yatra. I always had respect for Mundeji and he treated me as a senior RSS worker as well. He never rejected any issue that I took to him.

Social identity and social justice were a common thread between both of us.  He was the face not only of Hinduism but also of ordinary people.  In other word he was real mass leader in BJP. You inherited the legacy. Mundeji worked hard and created his own position, he never received anything in the legacy.

His journey from an ordinary Jana Sangh worker to the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and then a central minister was on his own capability.  He had to fight for that.

Pankajatai, you have to continue this legacy.  No doubt that Gopinath Munde was the only candidate for CM post if he was alive!  But democracy never allows transferring the post by legacy, and to be frank one should not expect so!!  It is risky.

Raj Thackarey was taken at the helm by the Marathi people,. But after weighing him for some period, they rejected him in Lokasabha and now even in Vidhansabha! Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy was very popular CM in Andhra, but after his unfortunate death in helicopter crash, his son Jagan Reddy mistakenly assumed that he’s going to be next CM! And history says that instead of CM post he had to go to jail!  This is what politics is.

While giving interview to The Indian Express you stated that ‘you are the Mass leader and rests are metro leader!’  Have you ever thought that how many adversaries you created with this statement?  Even all your well-wishers and advisers are also silent.  I really don’t know if any advisers are there, but in politics you have some people around who dare to give proper advice that may be bitter to hear today, but definitely it should be in future.

The biography of Shivaji Maharaj is all time relevant in such a situation. It gives us many things to learn. Saint Ramadas had well said about  politics that, ‘'इशारतीचे बोलो नये| बोलायाचे सांगू नये| सांगायचे लिहू नये...' means one should not  always speak or write one’s key thoughts, in short one should not open one’s cards in politics! Open your ace of spades only when you are assured about victory.  If you open them before that, you will lose the game for sure!

Pankajatai, there is nothing wrong in aspiring for the CM post. Every MLA can aspire for it, as he is the a Mass leader of his own constituency. He may also prove his eligibility for the post! But important thing is that your party must feel so!  Others should recommend and propose our name! Mr. Narendra Modi was not aspiring for the CM post in Gujarat, or for the PM post, - but others bestowed it upon him. Always remember that party is supreme for ever than masses! 

Public opinion is often shaky. Therefore one should not rely on public opinion.  People are rallying behind you because of sympathy for your deceased father; the same will could gradually wane away. So try to garnish the public opinion on your own.  That Rajiv Gandhi rode the sympathy wave to become PM, and fallen to public wrath, is a recent history.

Pankajatai, parlous politicians and selfish coterie will always nurture your ambitions.  Now -a- days Mr. Udhhav Thackarey is showering praises on your father.  But everybody knows what he felt regarding Gopinathrao when he was alive.  If Shivasena wants to anoint you as CM, then surely it’s a mere political move!  No politician should let him/her use by others. He should always remain alert to avoid it. As far as your age is concern, you have very long political career in your hand. You are now just 34. Your capacity is also high.  Your political colleagues also admires you, they are looking forward with great expectations.