The Maharashtra government has recently announced the renaming of Ahmednagar district to Ahilyadevi Nagar in honor of the 18th-century warrior-queen Ahilyadevi Holkar.
This decision is seen as a significant step to appease and empower the Dhangar community, which holds considerable numerical strength in Maharashtra’s population.
The move is part of a larger strategy by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to diversify its support base and reduce the dominance of the Maratha community in the state’s politics.