Maharashtra has always maintained communal harmony and people from outside were coming to the state and making provocative remarks, NCP president and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said in Pune on Friday, in an apparent reference to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath’s ‘Batenge to Katenge’ slogan.
The UP chief minister’s slogan, a bid to unite Hindus and overcome division of votes on the basis of caste, is reverberating in Maharashtra ahead of polls where the BJP-led Mahayuti, of which the NCP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) are part, is up against the Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising the SHiv Sena (UBT), Congress and the NCP(Sharad Pawar) is a high-stakes contest.
"Nobody should compare Maharashtra with the other states. People here have always ensured communal harmony. Some from outside come here and make statements but Maharashtra has never accepted communal division. The state follows the secular ideology of Shahu (Maharaj), (Jyotiba) Phule, and (Babasaheb) Ambedkar,” Pawar said without naming the UP chief minister.
Pawar also sought to defend the candidature of party leader Nawab Malik whom Ajit Pawar has fielded from Mankhurd-Shivajinagar seat despite strong objections from the BJP as well as the Shinde Sena. Notably, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena has also fielded a candidate from the seat after Pawar refused to ask Malik to withdraw his candidature.
On Thursday, Ajit Pawar participated in a roadshow campaigning for Malik in the constituency and said none of the charges against him have been proven. Malik is accused in a money-laundering case linked to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim.
“He cannot be held guilty on the basis of allegations. I will campaign for him,” Ajit told the media.
Both Mahayuti allies – Shiv Sena and BJP – have refused to campaign for Malik in the elections. When asked about his reaction to Prime Minister narendra Modi holding multiple rallies across the state to campaign for Mahayuti candidates, Pawar said he does not require anyone to campaign for him in Baramati where he is the candidate.
“I do not need anyone's rally in Baramati. More of his (PM's) rallies are needed in other constituencies,” said Pawar.
Assembly elections in Maharashtra will be held in a single phase on November 20 while the results will be declared on November 23. The term of the Maharashtra Assembly ends on November 26.
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