Aurangzeb, Abdali, 'power jihad': Maharashtra political discourse takes on a Mughal flavour

The war of words between Union home minister Amit Shah and Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Uddhav Thackeray is the latest instance where politics meets history.

Historical figures who existed more than three to four centuries ago are now part of the present-day political discourse in Maharashtra.

Political leaders are using the names of some of the most hated historical personalities in the state to attack their opponents.

The war of words between Union home minister Amit Shah and Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Uddhav Thackeray is the latest instance where politics meets history.

Recently, during his Maharashtra tour, Amit Shah called Uddhav Thackeray a member of the Aurangzeb fan club.

Shah’s taunt at Thackeray was in reference to the latter’s alliance with the Congress and the NCP, which are perceived as pro-minority parties and have a large voter base of Muslims.

The recent success of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena during the Lok Sabha polls was largely attributed to Muslim votes.

Although Thackeray still maintains that he is a Hindutvawadi, he has abstained from attacking Muslims.

Shah, by invoking Aurangzeb, targeted Thackeray for his soft approach towards Muslims.

Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir, who ruled India from 1658 to 1707, is a much-despised figure among Maharashtrian Hindus due to his religious fanaticism. He was at war with Chhatrapati Shivaji and held him and his son Sambhaji hostage in Agra. After Chhatrapati Shivaji’s demise, Sambhaji continued the confrontation with Aurangzeb and was killed by the Mughals in a brutal manner. He died in Maharashtra and is buried in Aurangabad, which has recently been renamed Sambhaji Nagar.

On Friday, Uddhav retaliated against Amit Shah.

Referring to Shah’s surname, Thackeray said that he was a political descendant of Ahmed Shah Abdali.

Abdali, like Aurangzeb, is also a hated figure in Maharashtra.

He was an Afghan ruler who defeated the Marathas in the Battle of Panipat.

Thackeray accused the BJP of engaging in “power jihad” in Maharashtra by splitting political parties.

Citing Aurangzeb’s tomb, Thackeray said that the BJP will also be buried like him in Maharashtra.

Referring to a Mughal army commander, Shaista Khan, Thackeray said that he never returned to Maharashtra after his fingers were chopped off by Chhatrapati Shivaji, but Amit Shah keeps returning to the state to witness the ill impact that his party has made.

Political activities in Maharashtra are becoming intense with the state assembly polls only three months away. Both the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition alliance of MVA are likely to finalize seat-sharing arrangements in the next two to three weeks.