Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R). **Assertion (A):** The office of the Peshwa became hereditary and the de facto executive head of the Maratha state during the reign of Chhatrapati Shahu. **Reason (R):** Chhatrapati Shahu was physically weak and lacked the political support of the Maratha sardars, forcing him to surrender all powers to Balaji Vishwanath.

Options:

• A: Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B: Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
• C: (A) is true but (R) is false.
• D: (A) is false but (R) is true.

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