The recent Lok Sabha Elections in Maharashtra saw a surprising turn, as Muslims backed parties other than the BJP. As a result, the ruling party fell short of securing a majority in the 2024 elections, mainly due to massive losses in some states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
In a surprising turn in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena under CM Eknath Shinde won 7 seats, while the BJP secured nine seats. Meanwhile, parties like NCP (led by Sharad Pawar), Indian National Congress, and Shiv Sena (UBT) received support from Muslims and Communists, securing 8, 13, and 9 seats, respectively. This indicates that Muslims in Maharashtra favoured parties opposing the BJP and its allies.
After the results, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis quickly offered to step down, admitting defeat. He said, “Whatever loss we suffered in the LS polls in Maharashtra, I take full responsibility for it. Therefore, I urge the top leadership to relieve me of my ministerial duties, for I need to work for the party and contribute my time to the preparations of the state assembly polls.”
“Farmers’ issues were a big factor in certain areas. Additionally, misleading information about changes to the constitution influenced some voters. The support from Muslims and the Maratha community also made a difference,” he explained. He also hinted that Muslim support for INC, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar) contributed to the BJP’s unfavourable results.
Massive conspiracy was hatched in Maharashtra to defeat Narendra Modi Govt at centre.
The details coming out are shocking and must awaken the central leadership. Alarm was raised by Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/0V0mQMA51U
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) June 7, 2024
Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar, a close ally of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, claimed on June 6 that ‘fatwas’ issued by Muslims against the BJP helped Shiv Sena (UBT), INC, and NCP (Sharad Pawar) win most seats, even in places like Mumbai, Sangli, Baramati, Shirur, and Dindori.
He stated that Muslim voters believed Uddhav Thackeray had forsaken Hindutva ideology. “The fatwas helped Shiv Sena (UBT) win seats in Mumbai. If you deduct that, every Shiv Sena candidate would have been defeated by over 1-1.5 lakh votes,” Kesarkar said.
He also claimed that Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena received support from Mumbaikars and Marathi voters. Kesarkar alleged that a scheme hatched in Pakistan aimed to undermine Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s credibility. “Two ministers in Pakistan advocated for Modi’s defeat and, regrettably, some individuals here paid heed to their calls,” he claimed.
Kesarkar added that the Opposition falsely told Dalit communities that the Constitution would change if Narendra Modi won again. He suggested that this influenced Muslims to support parties opposing the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Fatwas issued in Pune targeting BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde), and NCP (Ajit Pawar)
Islamist leaders in the Pune region reportedly issued fatwas on May 7, urging Muslim voters to support specific candidates. They advised voting for Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) candidates from Pune, Shirur, Baramati, and Mawal constituencies. This declaration occurred during the ‘Taqreer By Hazrat Maulana Sajjad Nomani’ event organized by Kul Jamati Tanzeem Pune in the Kondwa region on May 2.
Jamiyat-Ulema-E-Hind (Pune) has issued a fatwa to vote for Congress+Pawar+UT Indi alliance candidates in Maharashtra.
Dear Hindus, they're united… What are you waiting for? pic.twitter.com/b21lSrVZTa
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) May 7, 2024
The video became widely shared on the internet, showing one of the event organizers declaring strong backing for the Congress and NCP Sharad Pawar group. They announced support for Ravindra Dhangekar of Congress in Pune, Supriya Sule and Amol Kolhe of NCP in Baramati and Shirur, respectively, and Sanjay Waghere of Shiv Sena (UBT) in Maval. The organizer urged community members to vote for these four candidates and encourage their family and friends to do the same.
The declaration occurred during an event held in honor of Maulana Sajjad Nomani, who addressed the topic ‘Maujuda Halat Aur Hamari Zimmedari’ (the current situation and our responsibility). Nomani emphasized that every Muslim voter should support the community’s interests. He also warned Muslims that if Modi won again, all Mazars and Madarsas would be destroyed.
“If you don’t exercise your right in the correct direction, your nation is such that it will forget the Rohingyas. The leader of this country has a plan to put an end to the Waqf system in this country. It is you who will save our Madarsas and Masjids and Mazars. This one plan of Modi is going to cause danger to the entire Muslim community,” Nomani could be seen instigating the Muslims against the government.
Islamic flags displayed at Shiv Sena (UBT) rally in Mumbai
Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), diverged from the Hindutva ideology established by his father, Balasaheb Thackeray, a few years ago. This led to a split with Eknath Shinde and his faction, who formed a new Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) aligning with the BJP. Since then, Uddhav Thackeray and his party have sought support from the Muslim community. They have refrained from speaking out against issues concerning the Muslim community, such as the 2020 Palghar mob lynching incident or MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s threat regarding the playing of azaan on loudspeakers. Some such incidents are believed to have worked in favour of Uddhav Thackeray, who secured 9 seats.
The video of the flag circulated on social media. It showed a green flag with a crescent moon and a five-point star raised during the UBT Sena rally. In the video, Muslim supporters and likely Shiv Sena (UBT) party workers celebrated with firecrackers and cheers as the Islamic flag waved high in the air.
UBT च्या मिरवणुकित पाकिस्तान चा झेंडा !
आता काय PFI , SIMI, AL QAEDA चे लोक मातोश्रीत बिर्याणी घेऊन जातील…
हे दाऊद च मुंबईत स्मारक पण बांधतील..
आणि म्हणे हा मा.बाळासाहेबांचा “असली संतान” pic.twitter.com/JA7pJcUx1d
— Nitesh Rane (@NiteshNRane) May 14, 2024
Meanwhile, BJP’s Nitesh Rane criticised the Shiv Sena (UBT) party, suggesting that former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray couldn’t rightfully claim to be the son of Hindu leader Balasaheb Thackeray. He alleged that the Pakistani flag was raised at the rally. However, it was later clarified that the flag raised at the rally was an Islamic flag, not a Pakistani one.
The political landscape in Maharashtra has experienced significant shifts characterised by strategic Muslim mobilisation and the realignment of alliances among major political players. The active participation of organisations such as AIMPLB and mosques, alongside the impact of fatwas and community support, has underscored the complex dynamics shaping the region’s politics.
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