A divisive, coarse campaign in Maharashtra

When the campaign for the Maharashtra Assembly election draws to a close, it will be noted as one of the most raucous and uncivil poll campaigns the state has seen. There is much at stake for individual parties, their leaders, and their alliances in the election. Personality issues, survival of parties, regional and national themes, political and ideological matters like reservation, farmers’ grievances, uneven development, caste and religion are all in a complex play in the state and the campaign reflected all these elements.

The presence of four regional parties has given a push to regional issues. The scenario in the state is very different from the situation it was in before the last Assembly election as parties and leaders have undergone a major shuffle. It is different even from the situation before the Lok Sabha election in May. The perception that the election has national significance has also had an impact on the campaign and its themes.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) which is challenging the ruling Mahayuti had campaigned in the Lok Sabha election on issues like caste-based reservation and threats to the Constitution. The failure of the NDA to get a big majority has diminished the traction of these issues. There is a different reservation issue, involving the Marathas, in play in the state. There is also an impression that the MVA partners are not aligned on the chief ministership. The electoral dynamics have also changed with the presence of a large number of independent candidates, rebels, and smaller parties. The MVA is considered to be dominated by the Marathas, and the Mahayuti has tried to consolidate other castes against it, following the BJP’s electoral playbook in other states.

The Mahayuti has banked on the government’s record and its sops and populist schemes, especially the Ladki Bahin scheme which makes monthly payouts to women. The manifestos of both parties have resorted to competitive populism and have offered sops to beat the rival’s and have made very unconvincing promises. The campaign saw a lot of derogatory and indecent language and personal attacks by leaders. The worst part of the campaign was its degradation and communalisation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other BJP leaders have attacked the Congress, the main Opposition party, as anti-national and linked it to the Mughals, Muslims and Pakistan.

They have used unseemly slogans like 'batenge to katenge' to consolidate the Hindu vote. Some of the BJP’s allies have dissociated themselves from these slogans. It is unfortunate that the election campaign in one of the country’s major states was sought to be made communal and divisive.