Q. Who engineered the 1712 Kolhapur palace coup, resulting in the installation of Sambhaji II as ruler?
Answer: Balaji Vishwanath
Notes: Balaji Vishwanath was a key Maratha statesman who rose from a local Deshmukh family to become Peshwa under Shahu Maharaj. One of his lesser-known but significant achievements was engineering the 1712 Kolhapur palace coup. Using Rajasbai, he installed Sambhaji II on the Kolhapur throne, which helped consolidate Maratha power in the region. This event demonstrated his political acumen and ability to influence succession disputes. His actions laid the groundwork for later Maratha expansion under his son, Baji Rao I.