Elections And Equestrian Statues: How Shivaji's Legacy Is Shaping Maharashtra's Political Landscape

As the Maharashtra assembly elections approach, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has emerged as a key symbol for political parties vying for votes. Recently, Rahul Gandhi unveiled a statue of the legendary Maratha king in Kasaba Bawada, Kolhapur, sparking renewed interest in Shivaji's legacy among political leaders. Following this, Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, a descendant of Shivaji, held a rally and visited the proposed site of an equestrian statue of Shivaji near the Arabian Sea.

In December 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed a jal pujan ceremony for the planned Shivaji memorial. However, in the eight years since, little progress has been made, prompting Sambhajiraje to criticise the ruling Mahayuti government for the delays. Previously a BJP Rajya Sabha MP, he now leads his own political party, the Maharashtra Swarajya Paksh, and is using the memorial project as a key campaign issue. He has stated his intention to prevent the political exploitation of Shivaji's name during this election.

Sambhajiraje attempted to inspect the proposed site in the Arabian Sea. As boats are prohibited from entering, he used binoculars to look for any signs of construction. "I couldn't see the memorial," he said, indirectly attacking the current ruling parties for their alleged misuse of Shivaji's image. He expressed frustration over the lack of action, questioning why the Prime Minister was invited to perform the ceremony without the necessary permissions in place.

The legacy of Shivaji Maharaj has long influenced electoral politics in Maharashtra. In 2014, the BJP launched its Lok Sabha campaign from Raigad Fort, where Modi visited on January 5. Similarly, in the lead-up to the 2019 elections, the NCP initiated two statewide tours from significant locations linked to Shivaji, including Raigad Fort and Shivneri Fort, his birthplace. This year, NCP chief Jayant Patil has also started a 'Shiv Swarajya Yatra' from Shivneri Fort.

Recent controversies surrounding Shivaji statues have further intensified political activity. A statue erected in Sindhudurg in December 2023 collapsed, leading to widespread criticism of the Eknath Shinde-led government. In response, leaders across party lines have taken steps to honour the Maratha king.

On October 3, Sambhajiraje inaugurated a new statue of Shivaji in Roha, constructed by the local municipal council. Other recent unveilings include a statue by Uddhav Thackeray in Nagpur and another by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in August.

The ambitious Shivaji memorial project, featuring a 210-metre-tall statue located 3.5 km off the Mumbai coast, has faced obstacles. The state government halted construction in January 2019 after the Supreme Court granted a stay following environmental concerns. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has accused Congress of causing these delays, noting that an advocate connected to the party initiated the Supreme Court petition. He assured that the government is working to secure the necessary permissions to move forward with the project, which has an estimated cost of ₹3,600 crore.