Despite the opposition registered by its coalition partners, the BJP is determined to push its Hindutva agenda in the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 at a time when the polarisation of electorates is deepening amid a campaign charged with communal division. Is the saffron party going back to its old tricks of polarising politics?
After emphasizing the government-sponsored projects and populist decisions taken by the ruling Mahayuti government, the BJP has suddenly taken up the issues of ‘vote-jihad’, waqf, Article 370, and consolidation of Hindu votes.

‘Batenge Toh Katenge’: Will It Work?

When Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said “batenge toh katenge” (“divided, we perish”) referring to the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, the BJP was quick to lap it up. The saffron party used it in the Haryana Assembly Election in a big way.
The party became so penchant with this slogan that even a high official like the Prime Minister could not resist the temptation of using it, though in a more subtle way. “Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain”, PM Narendra Modi raked up this slogan in an attempt to consolidate the Hindu votes.

Is BJP Upset Over Anti-Incumbency?

Political analysts believe the saffron party is afraid of the anti-incumbency factor, it is coupled by the fact that it fielded many of its sitting MLAs under pressure. Most of its MLAs threatened a revolt, changing the dynamics of the electoral politics of their constituencies and the state in a way.
The second reason for going back to the Hindutva plank is the BJP’s apprehension over the Maratha vote bank, which constitutes about 27% of the total electorate. Initially, the saffron party hoped that the anger over the Maratha reservation issue would dissipate and the party would not suffer any backlash. Its hopes were rekindled after the Maratha reservation leader Manoj Jarange-Patil showed a flip-flop in his approach to the movement.

Maratha-Muslim Consolidation?

However, the man who led the movement announced that he would not support any party in the state assembly election. Political analysts believe, this would stop the Maratha vote from splitting and would help the opposition MVA more than the ruling Mahayuti.
However, another coalition partner Nationalist Congress Party feels uneasy with the rhetoric based on divisive politics and a narrative favouring majoritarianism.

NCP Rejects BJP’s Slogan

Its leader Ajit Pawar made his objection clear in the most unequivocal terms. He bluntly said that the culture of Maharashtra has been shaped by Sahooji Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, and B R Ambedkar. He went a step ahead and declared that this slogan of “batenge toh katenge” would not work in Maharashtra.

Dissent Within BJP

Some BJP leaders do not find it easy to go with the slogan. Pankaja Munde, BJP leader and daughter of former Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde, expressed her reservation. Taking an indirect dig at Yogi Adityanath, she said that she would not support the slogan only because it had been raised by her party. She also said that the party needed to focus on development. She added that it is the work of a leader to make every citizen feel that it is his own country.

Farmers’ Land To Waqf?

However the saffron partner of the Ajit Pawar-led party refused to budge and remained stuck with its strategy of dividing the voters. It went to the extent of declaring that if the Congress wins, the government would confiscate the land of the farmers and give it to the waqf board. Political analysts reject it as a trick to intimidate gullible farmers and consolidate them against the Congress and Muslims.
Political analysts also think that the BJP has used this ploy to break any potential Maratha-Muslim consolidation which may go against it. The saffron party also aims to consolidate all Hindu voters irrespective of their castes and clans to that they could vote in favour of the party.

Article 370 To Change Game

Similarly, the BJP has also raised the issue of Article 370. After the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly approved the proposal of bringing back Article 370, the BJP upped the ante against the Congress and put it in the dock. As the grand old party could not retaliate and hit back, the BJP got emboldened and decided to make it an issue in the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024. It was also emboldened by the result of Haryana where it raked up this issue and won the election unexpectedly.
Political analysts believe the BJP is feeling uncomfortable, it is not assured of its victory in the state and so it has gone back to its time-tested formula of polarizing the voters.
How will the voters react to the strategy of the saffron party? They will give their verdict soon.