Maharashtra Polls: BJP Bets Big on Hindutva.

BJP Doubles Down on Hindutva Agenda in Maharashtra Election Push.

Sumitra Patil | HENB | Mumbai | Nov 15, 2024:: Although leveraging Hindutva is merely an election strategy, the BJP is relying on it to navigate the Maharashtra Assembly Election safely. However, it remains to be seen whether the party genuinely intends to strengthen Hindutva at its core or promote Hindu empowerment, particularly in the face of AIMIM’s growing aggression in the state describing them as ‘Razakar’. For now, the BJP’s primary objective is to maintain power, and it’s betting on Hindutva to achieve that goal.

The BJP’s campaign strategy for the Maharashtra Assembly elections has taken a significant turn with the intensification of its Hindutva narrative. Slogans like “Batenge toh katenge” (if divided, we’ll be slaughtered) and “Ek hain toh safe hain” (united, we are safe) are being used to drive home the party’s message.

This move comes after the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, where they won only nine out of 28 seats contested in Maharashtra. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attributed this loss to the party’s failure to counter the impactful Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi.

However, not everyone within the BJP is on board with this strategy. Senior leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, along with MLC Pankaja Munde, have voiced opposition to the “Batenge toh katenge” slogan, calling it distasteful and unnecessary for Maharashtra.

The BJP’s Hindutva narrative is seen as an attempt to regain momentum and counter the opposition’s “changing of constitution” angle, which didn’t quite resonate with voters. With the elections just around the corner, it remains to be seen how effective this strategy will be in swaying voters.

The BJP’s manifesto for the Maharashtra Assembly elections has some contentious elements that are making waves. One of these is the proposed anti-conversion law, which is reportedly causing unease among its ally, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). This law aims to prevent forced conversions, but its implications are being closely watched.

Additionally, the BJP is warning farmers about potential land takeovers by the waqf board if the Congress comes to power. This tactic seems to be an attempt to sway farmers’ votes by creating concern around land ownership.

The BJP has also revived its criticism of the Congress regarding Article 370, following a resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly seeking to restore the region’s special status. This move is likely intended to polarize voters and reinforce the BJP’s Hindu nationalist agenda.

Historical parallels are being drawn by BJP leaders, linking the Congress to the Razakars, a paramilitary force from pre-Independence Hyderabad. This narrative aims to paint the Congress as having a legacy of supporting extremist groups.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has sparked controversy with his recent remarks targeting the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), invoking Aurangzeb and vowing to “capture Pakistan.” This statement comes on the heels of months-long anti-“love jihad” rallies led by the Sakal Hindu Samaj, an organization allegedly backed by senior BJP figures ¹. Fadnavis emphasized the need to counter “love jihad” and “land jihad” with “dharma yuddha” (religious war), further fueling the already charged atmosphere.

This development is part of a broader narrative in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, where parties are vying for a winning strategy. The BJP is reverting to its familiar Hindu-Muslim narrative to regain momentum, but faces resistance from within its own ranks.

The BJP is shifting its focus to Hindutva themes in Maharashtra, amidst the prospect of a Maratha-Muslim consolidation behind the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and rural discontent over farm issues. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been brought into the campaign to appeal to North Indian migrants in Maharashtra, leveraging his slogan “Katenge toh batenge”. This strategy is particularly significant in constituencies with large Muslim populations, where BJP leaders believe consolidating Hindu votes could be a game-changer.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also adapted Adityanath’s slogan to “Ek hain toh safe hain” in Dhule, emphasizing the importance of unity among Hindus. This move is seen as an attempt to strengthen the BJP’s alliance with the Shiv Sena and NCP factions, while countering the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition.

The BJP’s efforts to address Maratha anger over the quota issue have fallen short, with key leader Manoj Jarange-Patil refusing to back any party, potentially consolidating the Maratha vote in favor of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). This development comes as rural dissatisfaction with the BJP’s handling of agricultural issues persists, despite attempts to address caste and agricultural concerns ¹.

A senior BJP source acknowledged that welfare schemes in the agriculture sector failed to alleviate farmer anger over low kharif crop prices, admitting they underestimated the intensity of dissatisfaction. The party’s assumption that Maratha anger over reservation quotas would subside has also proven false, particularly with Jarange-Patil’s decision to remain unaffiliated.

Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat criticized the BJP for employing “fake narratives” to mislead voters, citing baseless claims about the waqf board. He argued that the BJP’s reliance on caste and religion for votes would not be effective this time.

Ajit Pawar, a key leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has publicly distanced himself from the BJP’s overt Hindutva messaging. Pawar emphasized the importance of restraint, highlighting Maharashtra’s progressive heritage, inspired by iconic figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

However, BJP leaders like Shivray Kulkarni remain steadfast in their defense of the party’s Hindutva narrative. Kulkarni argued that this approach is grounded in reality and aligned with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s founding principles. He also pointed to the concept of “vote jihad,” suggesting it reflects the opposition’s efforts to rally minority votes against the BJP, citing the Lok Sabha election results as evidence.

The BJP’s Hindutva push is a strategic move to consolidate its position in Maharashtra, where Muslims comprise approximately 12% of the population and significantly influence key constituencies. Yet, it remains uncertain whether this strategy will overcome rural grievances and complex caste dynamics.

The Shiv Sena (Shinde) and BJP alliance in Mahayuti has been notably silent on key issues affecting Hindus in Maharashtra, including the Palghar killing of Hindu saints and the repression of Hindutva activists and Sanatan Sanstha members by the police and state system and the rampant anti-Hindu propagation by the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti etc. Despite this silence, Hindutva politics continues to dominate the discourse in the state’s election session.

The Palghar incident and ongoing repression of Hindutva activists have been concerns for the Hindu community, but Mahayuti has not taken a strong stance on these issues. Instead, the alliance has focused on consolidating its Hindu vote bank through flamboyant Hindutva politics.

Meanwhile, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP, and Congress, has been capitalizing on the discontent among various sections of society, including farmers and minorities. The MVA is predicted to win 151-162 seats in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly Elections, according to a pre-poll survey. But the Mahayuti alliance with Shiv Sena (Shinde), NCP (Ajit Pawar) and BJP claimed a robust victory in upcoming election marginalising the MVA in a poor double digit.

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(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of Struggle for Hindu Existence)