If Maharashtra was lost because of voters’ list, what about Delhi?
A day before BJP swept to power in Delhi after 27 years after getting an emphatic mandate in the assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was in Mumbai, where he demanded that the Election Commission must have over to his party detailed list of voters of the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Maharashtra.
Rahul Gandhi, along with NCP (Sharad) leader Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut addressed a joint press conference where he alleged that 39 lakh voters were added during the five-month period between the Lok Sabha and assembly polls in the state. Rahul Gandhi said, on the contrary, only 32 lakh voters were handed during the five years period from 2019 to 2024.
Rahul Gandhi claimed that the adult population in Maharashtra was 9.54 crore, as per government data, but the number of voters is 9.7 crore. “We want to know who are these new voters?”, Rahul Gandhi asked.
Sanjay Raut alleged that BJP has invented a new formula to win elections with the help of Election Commission. He said, the 39 lakh new voters in Maharashtra will now be added to the Bihar voter lists, since Bihar would be going to elections towards the end of this year.
“This is the floating voter, who move from one state to another, where elections are held. BJP wins elections with the help of these floating voters”, Raut said.
Supriya Sule demanded paper ballots to replace EVMs. She alleged that the EC never listens to opposition parties’ demand for repoll, nor listen to their demand for change in poll symbols. “The EC never replies to our complaints. If you want to save democracy, the EC must reply to all our queries”, she said.
The fact is, Rahul Gandhi never sticks to figures whenever he makes allegations. In the last three weeks, he had raised the allegation of malpractices in electoral lists at least thrice. Every time, he changes his figures.
On January 18, while addressing a rally in Patna, Rahul Gandhi said, the number of voters in Maharashtra rose by one crore in the last five months. On February 3, while speaking in Lok Sabha, he put this figure at 70 lakhs. On Friday, he said the figure was 39 lakhs. It is now difficult for anybody to decide which figure could be correct.
The Election Commission on Friday said, it would respond to Rahul Gandhi’s charges with full facts and figures. In a tweet on X, Election Commission said, it “would respond in writing with full factual and procedures matrix uniformly adopted across” India.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said, since Congress is going to be decimated again in Delhi elections, Rahul Gandhi is trying to prepare a ground for giving excuses for his party’s impending defeat.
Fadnavis said, “it would be better if Rahul Gandhi introspects, otherwise the Congress party is bound to sink”.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said, the defeat in Maharashtra assembly polls has acted as an electric shock for Maha Vikas Aghadi and Rahul Gandhi is unable to reconcile with reality. “He is only making excuses. It will be better if Rahul Gandhi forgets the past and prepare for fresh elections”, Shinde said.
Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane compared Rahul, Sanjay Raut and Supriya Sule with the “3 idiots”. He said, “earlier Congress and its allies used to get en bloc Muslim votes and the Hindu votes used to be divided. This time Hindus voted unitedly and MVA got a shock. If Rahul and Supriya Sule have problems with EVMs, they should first resign from Parliament and tell the people that they do not want to remain MP by becoming elected on the basis of EVMs.”
I think, Rahul Gandhi sometimes speaks whatever is given to him in writing. He does not do research on his own. I have seen the Election Commission figures. The Congress was in power in 2009. From 2009 to 2014, 75 lakh new voters were added in Maharashtra electoral lists. From 2014 to 2019 assembly elections, 63.1 lakh new voters were added. From 2019 to 2024, 71.84 lakh voters were added.
The pattern is the same. I have given here the figures. It is for the people to decide whether the charges of manipulation in electoral rolls can stand close scrutiny.
Maharashtra electoral rolls manipulation: What’s the factual position ?
In his one-hour long speech in Lok Sabha on Monday, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi levelled several allegations, like China “sitting over 4,000 sq km of our land”, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visiting the US “to get an invitation for Prime Minister Modi” to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration event.
However, his most serious clear charge was related to the recently held Maharashtra assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi alleged that “between the Lok Sabha polls, which the INDIA bloc won, and the assembly elections, the number of nearly 70 lakh voters, equivalent to the population of Himachal Pradesh was added in the Maharashtra electoral rolls during the period of five months.
Rahul Gandhi alleged, “more voters were added in five months compared to the last five years in Maharashtra.”
He cited an example alleging that nearly 7,000 new voters were added in one building in Shirdi after the Lok Sabha polls. Rahul Gandhi said, “we have repeatedly requested the Election commission to give us the Lok Sabha voters’ list and that of the Vidhan Sabha. We are telling the Election Commission to ‘please give us names and addresses of voters of all booths from the Lok Sabha elections and the assembly elections’, so that we can calculate who these voters are.”
The Leader of Opposition alleged that the new voters were added mostly in those constituencies where the BJP candidates eventually won. He demanded that the Election Commission must give the data about Maharashtra elections to the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP(Sharad Pawar) parties, so that these parties can check exactly where new voters were added and where names of voters were deleted.
Rahul Gandhi said, “in order to safeguard our Constitution, the entire opposition is requesting data from the EC on Maharashtra electoral rolls”.
The Congress leader also raised the issue of selection of Election Commissioners. “Earlier, the selection committee consisted of the PM, the Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of India, but later the government removed the Chief Justice from the committee, and added the Home Minister. This raises a crucial question for the Prime Minister. Why was this change made?”
Rahul Gandhi went on: “In a few days, I will be attending the meeting of this selection committee where Mr Amit Shah and Mr Narendra Modi will be there, but it is like an uneven playing field, with a 2:1 ratio. What’s the point of my attending this meeting? Am I merely there to rubber-stamp what Modi ji and Amit Shah ji propose? .. The presence of the Chief Justice would have facilitated a more balanced discussion… To remove the CJI from the committee seems to be part of a deliberate strategy.”
The moot point is: Rahul Gandhi has questioned the results of Maharashtra elections by alleging that 70 lakh voters were added in the intervening period of five months between LS and assembly polls.
The Congress party had written a long letter to the Election Commission, and the poll body replied in 66 pages. The Election Commission countered the Congress’ charges regarding alleged addition of 50,000 electors between July and November 2024 in 50 Assembly constituencies (ACs), 47 of which were allegedly won by the Mahayuti coalition.
The Election Commission clarified that only six constituencies saw an increase of over 50,000 electors during this period. Therefore, the assumption that the results in 47 assembly constituencies were influenced by this factor is inaccurate, the EC said.
The EC also provided a detailed explanation of the transparent and regulated process of updating electoral rolls, which involves political parties at every stage. The Commission, in its reply to the Congress party, had said that preparation of electoral rolls was a meticulous, transparent, and participatory process. All political parties, including Congress, are involved at each stage of the updation process. Any additions or deletions of voters are carried out strictly in accordance with the rules, with full participation from political parties, the EC had said.
On the allegation that 70 lakh new voters were added, the Election Commission described the figure as inaccurate. The EC said, 41 lakh new voters were added, out of which 26 lakh new voters were those who had attained the minimum voting age. Among them, nine lakh voters were in the 18-19 years age group. They were young first time voters who had added their names in the electoral list.
The Election Commission analysed that out of nearly one lakh polling booths in Maharashtra, if 40 voters are added per polling booth on an average, then the figure of 41 lakh new voters cannot be described as surprising.
From time to time, Election Commission carries out revision of electoral rolls. In 2018, when the revision of electoral rolls took place, more than 28 lakh voters were added within two months in Maharashtra. Nobody raised any question at that time.
It is surprising that Rahul Gandhi had the point-wise rebuttal sent by the Election Commission in his hand, in which each query was answered, and yet he tried to make it an issue in his speech.
Maharashtra : Who is the Boss ?
The last speed-breaker in the path of Devendra Fadnavis taking over as Chief Minister of Maharashtra was removed on Tuesday after the outgoing caretaker CM Eknath Shinde met him at his residence. Shinde along with NCP leader Ajit Pawar will be sworn in as Deputy CM on Thursday at Azad Maidan, where preparations for the ceremony are under way.
Shinde, who had been sulking for the last few days and was citing health reasons for not attending meetings with alliance partners, at last, agreed to meet Fadnavis to sort out the issue. It was decided that BJP would keep Home and Revenue portfolios, while Urban Affairs portfolio will be given to Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Finance to Ajit Pawar. Nearly 21 to 22 portfolios will be handled by BJP, 12 portfolios will go to Shiv Sena and 9 to 10 portfolios will be given to NCP, reports said.
The grand swearing-in ceremony will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several NDA chief ministers and top BJP leaders. Needless to say that with Shinde sulking for several days resulting in delay in government formation, the shine was taken off from the sweeping victory of Mahayuti in Maharashtra. Shinde displayed tantrums and it was because of this that those leaders who were defeated at the hustings, got the chance to make snide remarks like, “People sitting in Delhi are playing ‘damru’ (pellet drum) and Mahayuti leaders are dancing to their tune”. Some remarked that the “wedding procession is ready, but nobody knows who will be the bridegroom”.
All these snide comments have now stopped after it was decided who will lead the “wedding procession”. The unhappy, sulking “Phoopha Ji” (uncle), alluding to Shinde, has at last agreed to join the procession. The political suspense on Maharashtra was palpable. Ajit Pawar stayed put in Delhi, while Shinde was waiting for Amit Shah’s phone call. One must understand the political nuances. Both Ajit Dada and Shinde wanted to negotiate directly with Delhi and wanted to bypass Fadnavis. Both were clearly told that the task of forming and running the government has been given completely to Devendra Fadnavis and there shall be no outside interference. Both the leaders were told to talk with Fadnavis and decide who will become ministers from Shiv Sena and NCP in the new government. Fadnavis will have the discretion to decide about portfolios of all ministers and both the leaders should speak to him only.
The message was clear from Mota Bhai: the government in Maharashtra will not run from Delhi. All the decisions will be taken in Mumbai and Devendra Fadnavis will be given a free hand. Everybody must stand up and say, Jai Maharashtra!
Who is pressuring Uddhav to break off ties with Congress?
The after-effects of Maha Vikas Aghadi’s disastrous electoral defeat in Maharashtra assembly elections are showing. Senior leaders of Shiv Sena (UBT) have advised their party chief Uddhav Thackeray to come out of the Aghadi (alliance).
Reports say, when Uddhav was in a meeting with all MLAs and defeated candidates on Wednesday, several of them told him that it would not be wise to contest elections relying on alliance partners. They said, the party should now go alone in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections and in polls to 14 other city corporations and local bodies.
These leaders told Uddhav Thackeray to cut off ties with Sharad Pawar’s NCP and Congress. They told him that had the party contested the assembly polls alone, it would have won more seats. The most vocal among these leaders was Ambadas Danve. He said, the alliance with the two other parties has proved costly and the alliance lost because of “too much overconfidence” after the Lok Sabha elections.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut tried to control the damage caused by Danve’s remarks, and said the defeat was due to EVM tampering. He said, the three parties would remain united in the local body polls too.
For Uddhav Thackeray’s party leaders seeking to cut off ties with Congress is natural. The DNAs of Shiv Sena and Congress are quite different. Late Balasaheb Thackeray had forged his party, Shiv Sena, as a big Hindutva force, and it was because of this that Shiv Sena was the natural ally of BJP for several decades. In his quest to become the Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray changed direction and this has hurt the party badly.
On the other hand, Eknath Shinde gauged the feelings of Shiv Sainiks correctly and did not change his ideological line. He spoke of Balasaheb’s Hindutva ideology openly during the recent assembly polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a dig at Uddhav Thackeray during his campaign and challenged him to make Rahul Gandhi described Balasaheb Thackeray as “Hindu Hriday Samrat”.
Uddhav Thackeray could not explain to Shiv Sainiks why Shiv Sena joined hands with Congress, a party that questions Veer Savarkar’s patriotism. Uddhav’s colleagues are now trying to persuade him to go back to the Hindutva line. They are bluntly telling Uddhav that if Shiv Sena has to continue its existence in Maharashtra politics, it has to carry on with Balasaheb’s ideology. The first condition for this is to break off its relationship with the Congress.
“Right if we win, Wrong if we lose!”
Maha Vikas Aghadi parties are not ready to accept the recent electoral mandate in Maharashtra. MVA leaders are now planning anti-EVM protests to demand replacing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with ballots. NCP founder Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray met all defeated candidates on Wednesday and instructed them to file election petitions for matching EVM results with those of VVPATs. Plans are afoot to set up legal teams in the state and in Delhi.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has already demanded that all EVMs should be replaced with ballots, with BJP leaders accusing that the Congress is now desperate and should rather replace Rahul Gandhi as its leader. Congress leaders argue that in June this year, MVA had won 30 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, but five months later, MVA won only 48 out of 288 assembly seats. How can this be possible, they ask.
Probably Congress leaders forgot that in June, 2019, BJP had won all 7 Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, but eight months later, BJP could win only eight out of a total 70 assembly seats in Delhi. If we go backwards, in 2014, BJP had won all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi by a huge margin, but a few months later, when assembly elections were held, Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party registered a historic landslide win (67 out of 70 seats).
How voters can change their minds after such a short time gap can be illustrated from this year’s Lok Sabha results. BJP’s tally was 240 in this year’s Lok Sabha election. At that time, for the Congress, EVM was a boon. Nobody questioned about EVM battery, nor demanded matching with VVPAT results. Had BJP crossed the 300-mark, Congress would then have blamed its defeat on EVMs. Rahul Gandhi would, by now, have started his ‘Bring Ballots’ Padyatra.
Questions began to be raised after BJP’s victory in this year’s Haryana assembly election. Questions were raised about EVM batteries that were displaying 99 per cent charging. The Election Commission responded with a 1,500-page long reply. When questions were raised about VVPATs, EC replied that nearly 4 crore votes were matched with VVPAT results, and not a single result was found incorrect.
One interesting point to note is that, when the first complaints were raised about EVMs, Election Commission organized a Hackathon challenging anybody to come forward and hack an EVM. None came forward.
The issue was raised several times in the Supreme Court and every time, the apex court dismissed every petition. Anybody having any concrete proof or genuine grounds, can file petitions. Those who went to courts without any solid proof and put forth arguments based on surmises, had to return empty-handed.
To argue that EVMs worked correctly in Jharkhand and were fudged in Maharashtra is not a good thing for democracy. Seeding baseless doubts in the minds of people about the electoral process can create a situation as is being witnessed in neighbouring Pakistan.
Maharashtra, Jharkhand : Will exit polls prove right this time?
Maharashtra recorded 62.05 per cent polling, while Jharkhand, in its second phase, recorded 68.01 per cent voting on Wednesday, according to Election Commission of India, which described these figures as “approximate trend”.
The Commission said, this “approximate trend” does not include data of postal ballot voting, and that the trends were approximate because data from some polling stations take time to reach. EC said, final data for each polling station is shared in Form 17C with all polling agents.
There were no reports of violence in both these states.
All eyes were on exit polls from Maharashtra and Jharkhand, which hinted at advantage for BJP-led NDA in both the states, while some pollsters predicted neck-and-neck contests. The results will be known on Saturday November 23 (Counting Day).
Credibility of exit polls has taken a nose dive after pollsters were proved wrong during the Lok Sabha and Haryana assembly elections. In the United States too, while most exit polls had predicted a tough contest between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the pollsters were proved wrong, and Trump recorded an emphatic win, even in the swing states.
Exit polls for Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra were proved wrong because Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi won more seats than the NDA. When electioneering began for assembly polls, BJP leaders were worried about the trends, but Eknath Shinde’s government brought in welfare schemes to change the wind in its favour. If the results go in favour of NDA, the pollsters may be proved right this time.
In Jharkhand, chief minister Hemant Soren was sent to jail and this led to experts predicting that BJP took a wrong step, because Soren would be getting sympathy votes. But this has not been reflected in Wednesday’s exit polls.
If exit polls are proved right this time, then it will be established that the anti-incumbency factor against JMM government worked. Secondly, BJP forged a strong alliance in Jharkhand and all the constituent parties fought together. The results may prove this right, but all these are speculations. On Counting Day, people will know who won and lose.
Maharashtra : Behind the scene, game is on
As the curtain fell on high decibel electioneering in Maharashtra, top leaders used cuss words and threats against their rivals, but it is the common voter which will take the last call on November 20. On the last day of campaigning, Uddhav Thackeray threatened to put “traitors” in jails who have cheated Maharashtra. In response, CM Eknath Shinde said, “traitors” were those who abandoned Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology in order to grab the throne of power.
Sharad Pawar reminded rivals that he never forgets those who betrayed him, but his nephew Ajit Pawar said, it is the “janata which will do hisaab baraabar” (square up the account). Mallikarjun Kharge labelled BJP-RSS as “a poisonous snake”, while Rahul Gandhi brought a safe at a press conference to explain his view about Modi’s slogan “Hum Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain”. In response, BJP leader Sambit Patra dubbed Rahul as a “Chhota Popat”.
Let me explain in a nutshell what I think about these jibes and counter-attacks.
I will not be surprised if leaders who describe others as ‘snakes’ or ‘traitors’, may seek the help of the same political rivals after November 23 (Counting Day). The last five years of Maharashtra politics have witnessed several instances of treachery, tricks and backstabbings.
BJP fought the assembly elections in alliance with undivided Shiv Sena five years ago. The people of Maharashtra voted for Devendra Fadnavis to lead the new government, but soon after the results were out, Uddhav Thackeray ditched BJP and insisted that he be made the CM.
Sharad Pawar entered the scene, and a late night meeting was held with BJP, with Amit Shah attending. Fadnavis was sworn as CM and Ajit Pawar as Deputy CM, but it was a cunning move by Sharad Pawar, who later pulled out. He showed the BJP bogey and convinced Congress and Shiv Sena to ally with his party NCP.
The new government led by Uddhav was now under his remote control. Uddhav became the CM, but his trusted confidante Eknath Shinde brought the government down, after breaking away with his MLAs. Shinde became the CM in alliance with BJP. The revenge against Uddhav was complete and now it was time for teaching Sharad Pawar a lesson. Ajit ‘Dada’ was roped in to grab the party from uncle Pawar’s control. Ajit ‘Dada’ got the NCP symbol.
For five years, almost all the top politicians of Maharashtra were engaged in deceiving one another. The trend continues even today. Nobody knows what will happen after the election results are out. Nobody can say definitely who will go with whom after the elections. Uddhav may join hands with BJP, Ajit may do a homecoming. Shinde can go and take shelter in Matoshree. Anything can happen.
The sad truth is that Maharashtra politics, during the last five years, witnessed splits, treachery, deceit, political cut-and-thrust, on a massive scale. It is now difficult to trust any top politician in this state. The electioneering may have ended, but the rounds of treachery and deceit will continue.
Everything will change after the votes are cast. There will no “traitors” left, no “poisonous snakes” left, no “dakus” left, no “chor” left. It will be a “you go ahead, I will follow” (Tu Chal, Main Aaya) routine. The doors will reopen. As the political durbar begins, leaders may be drawn to one another like magnets. In Hindi, there is a proverb “Oont Kis Karwat Baithega” (which way the wind will blow), nobody knows. It is really difficult to predict.
Yogi to Kharge : Why silence on killer Razakars?
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, at his Akola, Maharashtra, rally, launched a direct attack on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. He mentioned about how Razakars owing allegiance to the then Nizam of Hyderabad had burnt his ancestral village, Warwatti, in 1946, killing his mother and sister.
Yogi said, “Kharge Ji is unnecessarily getting angry with me. I respect his age. He should express his anger with the Nizam of Hyderabad, whose Razakars burnt his village, mercilessly killed Hindus and took the lives of his mother, sister, and family members. He should bring this truth before the nation and the world. Only then people will know the meaning of my slogan, ‘Bantogey Toh Katogey’. He is refraining from placing this truth before the nation due to vote bank compulsions. He is deceiving the nation. I am only a Yogi. I have learnt only one thing. Do whatever is good for your country. For me, there can be nothing greater than my country and Sanatan Dharma.”
Yogi was only quoting from history. Kharge, while addressing a Congress workers’ convention at Delhi’s Talkatora stadium on August 17 last year, had said, “It is my misfortune that I could not see my mom, my brother, sister and uncle, because our home was burnt during the riots that led to Hyderabad liberation. Only my father and I were alive. It was in 1946, as riots went on from 1946 till 1948. My father and I fled the village and we later settled in Gulbarga.”
Yogi was responding to Kharge’s criticism that he made at his Maharashtra and Jharkhand rallies. Kharge had said, “A true yogi cannot use language like ‘Bantogey Toh Katogey’. Such language is used by terrorists. Yogi is the head of a mutt, wears saffron robes, but believes in ‘Munh me ram, Bagal Mein Chhuri’ (a wolf in lamb’s clothing).”
One must understand why Yogi raised the Hyderabad Razakar’s atrocities while replying to Kharge’s charge. The Congress President has often disclosed how he and his father fled their village during the 1946 riots and their family members died at the hands of Razakars. But Kharge never mentioned the Razakars or Nizam in his speeches.
It was Yogi who grabbed this point and put a poser to Kharge. Yogi alleged that Kharge was avoiding mention of Nizam and Razakars because his Congress party was concerned about keeping its Muslim votes intact. One BJP leader remarked, how can you call it secularism, when Kharge lost his family to jihadi Razakars and yet he speaks about Hindus as terrorists.
Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot hit back saying, “BJP leaders are intimidating the public. They brought the “Ek Rahengey, Safe Rahengey” slogan later, to control the damage, but their original slogan was ‘Bantogey Toh Katogey’. This is a dangerous slogan. Is this not at attempt to intimidate people? This is a clear indication of the way they want to do politics in the name of religion during elections.”
Hindu sadhus have openly lent support to Yogi. Jagadguru Rambhadracharya said, “despite many sects, Hindus must remain united. Only then nobody can harm us. United we remain strong. Saffron is the colour of Bhagwan. It was this saffron flag which Shivaji used to unite Maharashtra. Bhagwadharis should remain in politics, not those who are suited-booted.” It was Mallikarjun Kharge who had questioned Yogi’s saffron robes.
Maharashtra, Jharkhand : Modi, Yogi Slogans Game Changers ?
Opposition parties in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections are foxed by two slogans given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath. They are unable to work out a proper response. It was Yogi who coined the slogan “Bantoge Toh Katogey” (Divided, You Will Be Finished). A few weeks later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Jharkhand and Maharashtra rallies, coined the slogan “Ek Hain, Toh Safe Hain” (United, We Are Safe).
Both these slogans have become main issues in the assembly elections in both these states. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP founder Sharad Pawar, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and other top Congress leaders are busy trying to chalk out a proper response. While some leaders are abusing Yogi in public, others are cursing the UP CM.
Let me cite some examples: Congress President Kharge said in his Nagpur and Jharkhand rallies “A true yogi cannot use language like ‘Bantogey Toh Katogey’. Such language is used by terrorists. Yogi is the head of a mutt, wears saffron robes, but believes in ‘Munh me ram, Bagal Mein Chhuri’ (a wolf in lamb’s clothing).”
BJP leaders promptly demanded apology from Kharge for making such remarks. Kalki Dham Peeth chief Acharya Pramod Krishnam, who spent most part of his life in Congress, said, “leaders who oppose saffron robes, are anti-Hindus, they cannot be patriots and the people will teach Congress a lesson this time.”
In Maharashtra, BJP published front-page ad displaying PM Modi’s “Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain” slogan, but Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut objected to the ad. He said, the ad shows people of all sections wearing headgears, but the caricature of a Muslim wearing ‘jaalidar topi’ was missing. Raut alleged, BJP has only a single cap, and that’s the RSS black cap.
Some Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders, however, hold a different view. They feel that since BJP is trying mobilize Hindu votes, it will definitely have a backlash and may result in polarization of Muslim voters, which will surely help the anti-Modi bloc. Already Muslim leaders are active.
On Monday in Jaipur, qazis, moulvis and other Muslim leaders, including a Congress MP, gathered at a convention to demand the withdrawal of Waqf Amendment Bill, which is presently before a Joint Parliamentary Committee. The convention was named Tahaffuz-e-Auqaf, meaning ‘protection of Waqf properties’. The convention gave a ‘Chalo Delhi’ call on November 24 to all Muslim organisations.
Elections, women and indecent remarks : Stop it now
The use of indecent and derogatory remarks about female candidates by some male politicians in Maharashtra and Jharkhand is a matter of concern for all right-thinking Indians. On October 25, Congress minister in Jharkhand Irfan Ansari, contesting from Jamtara, described his BJP political rival Sita Soren as a “rejected maal”. BJP leaders lodged a protest with the Governor and demanded that he be dismissed from cabinet and barred from contesting elections. Ansari, on his part, did not apologize, but said, he did not use the words against Sita Soren, but used it in a general colloquial sense (“bolchaal ki bhaasha me use kiye the”).
Sita Soren is the wife of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha founder Shibu Soren’s eldest son Durga Soren, who died in 2009. She is the estranged sister-in-law of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. A tribal woman, Sita Soren broke down at a public meeting when she narrated the incident.
In Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and a close confidante of Uddhav Thackeray, Arvind Sawant, made an “imported maal” remark about Shaina NC. He faced an immediate backlash and Shaini NC filed an FIR against Sawant at Nagpada police station on Friday. The reason for using this indecent remark, according to Sawant, is that Shaina NC changed her constituency to Mumbadevi.
In his defense, Arvind Sawant says, he considers Shaini NC as “my friend”. Sawant said, “I never mentioned her name, I only said that an outsider is an imported maal, and will not able to work here.”
The fact is, his allusion was clearly towards Shaina NC, who promptly reacted on X saying, “I am a woman, not a maal” (Mai Mahila Hoon, Maal Nahin). She said, the women voters of Mumbai will surely give a befitting reply to such leaders. Shaina NC said, she would not forgive Sawant until and unless he comes to the police station and beg for pardon.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, on whose party ticket Shaina NC is contesting, said, the women of Maharashtra will reply to Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi for this indecent remark. Arvind Sawant, instead of tendering an apology, indulged in whataboutery, mentioning the parade of women in nude by a mob in Manipur to Janata Dal(S) leader Prajjwal Revanna’s sexual acts.
Arvind Sawant knows well what he said and for whom the remark was intended. By obfuscating, he is multiplying his mistake. It would have been better if had he not tried to justify his remark. By describing Shaina NC as “imported maal”, he has insulted womanhood. He could have apologized by saying it was a slip of tongue and the matter could have ended there.
Nobody becomes a lesser mortal by tendering apology. The sad part is that some of our male politicians view women as second-class citizens. Use of indecent remarks like ‘rejected maal’ and ‘imported maal’ about female politicians cannot be justified. It is shameful.
Maharashtra Elections: First Families At War
There was a flurry of nominations by close kin of top political leaders of Maharashtra, as filing of nominations for assembly polls closed on Tuesday. Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi and BJP-led Mahayuti were still locked in consultations to iron out differences over the remaining seats.
On Monday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, former CM Prithviraj Chavan, former CM Ashok Chavan’s daughter Srijaya Chavan, MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s son Amit Thackeray, Nawab Malik’s daughter Sana Malik, Late Baba Siddiqui’s son Zeeshan Siddiqui, Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi and several others filed nominations. NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar himself accompanied his grandson Yugendra Pawar in Baramati, who is contesting against his grand uncle Ajit Pawar. There were reports of local rebellion in several parties.
As of now, Congress expects to field more than 105 candidates, though it has announced names of 102 candidates, while Shiv Sena (UBT) has announced 84 and NCP(Sharad Pawar) 82 candidates. 18 seats are still left undecided in MVA.
The most spectacular contest will be in Baramati, where Ajit ‘Dada’ Pawar will be facing Sharad Pawar’s grandson Yugendra Pawar. Ajit Pawar has been consistently winning this seat since 1991, and he has been an MLA for 33 years. Ajit Pawar admitted that he made a mistake by fielding his wife Sunetra to contest against Supriya Sule during the Lok Sabha elections, but this time people will ‘punish’ Sharad Pawar for committing the same mistake.
Yugendra Pawar is contesting elections for the first time in his life. After filing nomination, Yugendra described his grandpa Sharad Pawar as his ‘guru’ and ‘markdarshak’. Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule said, the fight in Baramati is between ideologies and not between members of a family.
But the real fact is: the fight is in the family and it could be a tough and close contest. It was Ajit Pawar who trained the NCP cadre in Baramati for 33 years, and this time, he has the support of BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. That is why Ajit Pawar looks confident, but he also understands that his uncle Sharad Pawar has been doing politics in Baramati since 59 years and he has proved his mettle during the Lok Sabha elections.
The Baramati result will prove to be a gamechanger for Ajit Pawar’s political career, and as far as Sharad Pawar is concerned, the result from Baramati will decide to which camp the real NCP belongs.
The second most interesting battle will be in Kopri Pachpakhri seat of Thane, where Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will be facing Kedar Dighe, the nephew of his political guru Anand Dighe. Kedar Dighe has been fielded by Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, who accompanied Eknath Shinde on his roadshow on Monday, said, “mere blood relation does not make anybody a successor. A successor emerges only by dint of his work and thoughts and Eknath Shinde is the real successor of Anand Dighe”.
Eknath Shinde has been consistently winning this seat since 2009 and in the last election, he got more than 65 per cent votes. Thane is considered the citadel of Eknath Shinde, and his party candidate Naresh Mhaske had won this year’s Lok Sabha elections.
The third interesting battle is in Mahim, Mumbai, where Raj Thackeray’s son Amit will be testing the electoral waters for the first time. He is facing Mahesh Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT). Uddhav’s son Aaditya Thackeray is contesting from Worli, where MNS has fielded a candidate in a tit-for-tat action.
Overall, people will be witnessing interesting intra-dynasty battles this time. It was Ajit Pawar who was fielded by his uncle Sharad Pawar from Baramati 33 years ago, and now the tide has turned. Sharad Pawar has fielded his grandson to defeat his nephew Ajit this time. Sharad Pawar wants to tell the people of Maharashtra, who is the real ‘Dada’ of Pawar dynasty.
Similarly, Anand Dighe had anointed Eknath Shinde as his successor in Shiv Sena, but now Anand Dighe’s nephew will be challenging Eknath Shinde. Raj Thackeray used to consider himself the real successor of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, but now he has fielded his son to defeat his cousin Udhav Thackeray’s candidate. So, one would be watching a battle between brothers in Mahim.
Baba Siddiqui’s son Zeeshan is going to get the sympathy vote after the murder of his father, and he is going to claim his father’s legacy. For Sana Malik, his father Nawab Malik’s cases can pose problems. On the other hand, Anil Deshmukh is seeking votes for his son by telling voters about the cases filed against him. In Maharashtra politics, sons, daughters, nephews, nieces, grand sons and grand daughters are all in the fray. It is a situation where nobody will be raising the issue of dynastic politics this time.
Maharashtra: Seat-sharing is a facade, the real fight is for the CM’s chair
The BJP-led ruling Mahayuti alliance on Thursday ironed out its differences over seat sharing in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. BJP has agreed to leave some more seats for NCP (Ajit), and all the three allies have made a joint pledge to prevent party rebels from contesting.
BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Chandrashekhar Bawankule, NCP(Ajit) leaders Praful Patel and Ajit Pawar, and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had a marathon meeting at Amit Shah’s residence, where the Home Minister asked all three allies to ensure that rebels do not enter the election fray.
Shah said, it will be the responsibility of party leaders to convince their rebels not to contest. Most of the differences between the three allies are over seats in the Greater Mumbai region.
Ajit Pawar’s problem is that he has several heavyweight leaders in his party who want ticket for their kin, and if his party fails to get those seats, they may contest as rebels. It will be difficult for Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar to stem rebellion in their parties, but they have a good advantage as far as the election symbols are concerned. Both Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit’s NCP have the original party symbols with them.
Maha Vikas Aghadi is yet to iron out its seat sharing problem. Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aditya Thackeray told India TV’s daylong conclave ‘Chunav Manch’ that the decision about the chief ministerial face will be taken only after the seat sharing arrangement is finalized. At the same time, he reminded that the people of Maharashtra still remember Uddhav Thackeray’s rule.
Priyanka Chaturvedi, SS(UBT) spokesperson said at the conclave that Uddhav Thackeray leads in popularity ranks compared to other leaders, but NCP supremo Sharad Pawar has consistently said that the question of CM’s face be kept on hold till the elections are over.
Already, BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has decided to bombard the state with election rallies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing election rallies in Maharashtra from November 5 till 14, for eight days. He will be seeking votes not only for BJP, but also for alliance partners.
On the other hand, the Maha Vikas Aghadi is yet to come out of the woods as far as seat sharing is concerned. Seat sharing is not the sole issue. The main issue is who will become the Chief Minister if Aghadi comes to power.
For now, Uddhav Thackeray is the first claimant for the CM’s chair in Aghadi and there are others waiting in the wings. In Mahayuti, there are three claimants for the chief minister’s post. Eknath Shinde continues to be the CM, but if BJP wins more seats than Shiv Sena (Shinde), then Devendra Fadnavis will surely say that he is going to make a comeback. Ajit Dada Pawar is also dreaming to become the CM.