As Maharashtra prepares for the Maharashtra Olympic Association (MOA) elections on November 2, a contest that should ideally be about sports governance has evolved into a high-stakes political face-off.
The two leading candidates Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister and head of the NCP (Ajit faction), and Murlidhar Mohol, Union Minister of State and BJP MP are transforming the state’s top sports administrative post into a proxy war within the Mahayuti alliance.
The MOA, which governs multi-sport events and coordinates the state’s sporting policy, has become a symbolic prize for political control. What’s at stake is not just an association presidency but influence over the vast ecosystem of sports funding, athlete representation, and government-supported programs all crucial levers of soft power in a state where politics and sport are deeply intertwined.
The MOA election, decided by a small electorate of about 60 voters, is less about campaign rallies and more about institutional lobbying. Each affiliated sports body sends two representatives, making the process susceptible to persuasion and political pressure. Both Pawar and Mohol have mobilized their networks in Pune the power center of Maharashtra sports to consolidate influence.
For Ajit Pawar, this contest is personal. Having served three consecutive terms as MOA president, he seeks a fourth, asserting continuity and experience. His stronghold in Baramati and his long-term association with Kabaddi a sport deeply rooted in Maharashtra’s rural fabric have anchored his institutional influence.
Mohol, meanwhile, represents the BJP’s expansionist ambition. A four-time corporator, former Pune mayor, and current Union Minister, he brings central authority to a traditionally state-controlled space. By filing his nomination through the Wrestling Federation, Mohol also evokes the BJP’s connection with the powerful kusti (wrestling) base in rural Maharashtra, especially in western regions where akhadas remain political nurseries.
The Governance Question: Allegations and Electoral Integrity
The battle is not only political but ethical. BJP MLC Sandip Joshi has accused the MOA, under Ajit Pawar’s leadership, of financial mismanagement and electoral manipulation. According to Joshi, while the MOA has 50 affiliated sports associations, voting rights for this election have been restricted to only 22, effectively disenfranchising more than half of its membership. The claim suggests a calculated effort to retain control by limiting opposition votes a charge that, if proven, undermines the integrity of the election.
Even more serious are financial allegations concerning Rs 12 crore in government funds sanctioned to the MOA for Maharashtra’s participation in the National Games. Joshi contends that the association has not submitted the required financial accounts, raising “strong suspicion of corruption.” The issue has become a central BJP talking point, positioning Mohol’s challenge as a reformist bid to restore transparency and credibility to the institution.
Ajit Pawar’s extended control over the MOA reflects a larger pattern in Indian sports administration, where political leaders dominate federations for decades. His tenure has ensured stability, consistent funding, and an alignment between the state government and sports infrastructure. However, it has also drawn criticism for perpetuating opacity and patronage networks.
For Pawar, the timing of this election is critical. Following the NCP split earlier this year, retaining institutional bodies like the MOA serves as proof of organizational command. A loss to the BJP would dent his image as Maharashtra’s most entrenched institutional operator and weaken his leverage within the Mahayuti coalition.
His association with Kabaddi the same sport that has become a symbol of Maharashtra’s local sporting pride continues to anchor his political and social capital. His recent felicitation of Maharashtra athletes from the Kho-Kho World Cup underscores his strategy of intertwining political visibility with sporting success.
Murlidhar Mohol’s Political Entry and the BJP’s Larger Strategy
Murlidhar Mohol’s nomination signals that the BJP’s central leadership sees institutional capture as a key frontier in Maharashtra’s power politics. By fielding a sitting Union Minister against an ally, the party is testing the strength of its coalition and its capacity to challenge Ajit Pawar’s dominance even within shared governance structures.
Mohol’s campaign is built on two pillars: anti-incumbency and governance reform. His alignment with the wrestling fraternity not only brings cultural resonance but also connects him to one of Maharashtra’s most influential sporting and political ecosystems. As a Union Minister, Mohol’s credibility rests on his promise to introduce greater financial accountability and national-level integration of state sports policy.
His backers argue that MOA under BJP influence could receive better coordination with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and attract more central funding.
However, the move has political risk challenging an alliance partner at a time when both parties rely on cooperation for upcoming municipal and legislative elections.
The MOA election has thus become a litmus test for the stability of the Mahayuti alliance. Publicly, both leaders maintain a façade of cordiality, framing the contest as “friendly” and “sportive.” Yet, behind closed doors, it is an all-out turf war. The BJP’s decision to deploy figures like Sandip Joshi and Ramdas Tadas who accused Pawar of neglecting sports shows an orchestrated institutional strategy rather than a routine election. For the BJP, this is about demonstrating that even its allies’ fiefdoms are not immune to scrutiny or takeover.
For Ajit Pawar, victory would reaffirm his indispensability within the coalition; for the BJP, success would signal that its organizational muscle extends beyond electoral politics into the deep structures of Maharashtra’s sports and bureaucracy.
Scenarios: What Each Outcome Means
If Ajit Pawar Wins:
It will solidify his control over Maharashtra’s sports apparatus, showcasing his ability to outmaneuver even a Union Minister. Politically, it would strengthen his hand within the Mahayuti, allowing him to negotiate future seat-sharing from a position of confidence. Institutionally, however, it risks cementing a culture of opacity and restricted participation within the MOA.
If Murlidhar Mohol Wins:
It would mark a decisive institutional victory for the BJP, giving it control over a key sports body and symbolizing the party’s growing influence in Western Maharashtra. A Mohol-led MOA would be expected to initiate audits, open voting rights, and align with central governance norms but it would also deepen the rift within the ruling alliance, potentially destabilizing coordination ahead of future elections.
This election reveals a persistent flaw in India’s sports governance politicization of administrative bodies. Much like the Indian Olympic Association’s past struggles, the MOA’s contest underscores how political battles often overshadow athlete development and institutional reform.
To restore credibility, experts suggest three immediate measures:
- A forensic audit of all MOA finances, particularly the disputed Rs 12 crore.
- Restoration of voting rights to all 50 affiliated state associations to ensure electoral fairness.
- Alignment with Indian Olympic Association norms, including tenure limits and transparency mandates.
Conclusion: More Than a Presidency
The MOA election is no longer a matter of administrative continuity it’s a statement about who controls Maharashtra’s institutional architecture. For Ajit Pawar, it is a battle for survival as a political patriarch; for Murlidhar Mohol, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate the BJP’s intent to penetrate every layer of governance. The result will not only determine who chairs the state’s Olympic movement but also shape the political equilibrium within Maharashtra’s ruling coalition.
On November 2, the outcome from Pune will echo far beyond the stadium gates it will define the next chapter in Maharashtra’s institutional and political playbook.
