Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | 'Vote-Jihad' will have to be countered by 'dharma-yudh of votes': Fadnavis

Pune: Referring to a purported appeal by an Islamic scholar for a "vote-Jihad" against the Mahayuti government, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday called for a "dharma-yudh of votes" to counter it.

The BJP leader who also holds the home portfolio claimed the objective behind such efforts was not only to destabilize the Maharashtra government but also the BJP-led Union government.

During a rally at Khadakwasla here ahead of the November 20 assembly elections, he played a video by Sajjad Nomani.

"Elections will come and go, but appeasement has been started by Congress, Sharad Pawar, and `UBT' (Uddhav Thackeray). We are not against any religion. When we started the Ladki Bahin Yojana, we did not say to our sisters from the Muslim community that we will only give the benefit to our Hindu sisters. We provided the scheme to all the sisters irrespective of religion, but some people are trying to polarise voters," said Fadnavis.

The "Ulema Council" has given a charter of 17 demands to the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi and some of the demands are very dangerous as it is seeking 10 percent reservation to Muslims, claimed the former chief minister.

"One of the dangerous demands is to withdraw cases against Muslim youths involved in riot cases from 2012 to 2024. MVA has given in writing that they will give 10 percent reservation, they will withdraw the cases if they come to power," Fadnavis alleged.

He went on to claim that the slogan of "vote-Jihad" has been raised, and played Nomani's purported video.

If vote-Jihad was going to happen, "we will also have to fight a `dharma-yudh of votes," Fadnavis said.

"Today, if we remain united, only then we can remain safe," he added.

Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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