As Maharashtra braces for its upcoming assembly elections on November 20, allegations of religious manipulation and vote-bank politics are intensifying. The state, home to a diverse electorate and a vibrant political culture, is witnessing a controversial push from certain NGOs under the banner of the Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh (MMSS), which have been accused of orchestrating a campaign to rally Muslim voters against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by exploiting religious sentiments. These activities have led to allegations of a ‘vote jihad’—an alleged conspiracy to use religion to manipulate the electoral process.
Reports reveal that the Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh, in collaboration with over 400 NGOs operating across Maharashtra, has been actively engaged in boosting Muslim voter turnout in several constituencies. Areas with significant Muslim populations, such as Shivaji Nagar, Mumbadevi, Byculla, and Malegaon Central, have witnessed a surge in voter participation, particularly during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In these Muslim-majority regions, voter turnout was notably higher compared to neighboring constituencies with a more mixed demographic, suggesting that concerted efforts were being made to encourage Muslim voters to head to the polls.
During the Lok Sabha elections, turnout in these areas surpassed 60 per cent, a sharp increase from previous election cycles. This spike is attributed to widespread awareness campaigns orchestrated by organisations like MMSS, which held hundreds of meetings across the state to educate Muslim voters about the importance of voting and to specifically urge them to vote against the BJP. These campaigns, framed as efforts to increase political engagement, have sparked intense debates about their true motivations and potential for stirring up religious tensions.
Fakir Mehmood Thakur, the leader of the Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh, emphasized that their efforts were aimed at fostering constitutional values and encouraging Muslims to vote for secular candidates. “Our goal is to build a stronger, more informed Muslim electorate,” Thakur stated. “In light of controversial policies such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), we have been urging Muslim voters to reject the BJP and vote for parties that represent secularism.”
Thakur also cited that these policies—seen as discriminatory by many within the Muslim community—contributed to the higher turnout, as Muslims viewed their political participation as vital to counteract what they perceive as threats to their rights and identity.
However, these efforts have not been without controversy. BJP leaders have accused the Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh and its affiliate NGOs of fueling communal polarization for political gain. Kirit Somaiya, a senior BJP leader, has filed formal complaints with the Election Commission, alleging that these groups are inciting religious hatred and attempting to provoke Muslims against the BJP. Somaiya, who previously authored a book titled Vote Jihad, has been outspoken about what he perceives as a deliberate effort to polarize voters along religious lines.
Somaiya claimed that these groups were not just engaged in voter mobilisation but were actively trying to sway the Muslim community against BJP candidates by framing the party as an enemy of the Muslim community. He pointed to leaflets distributed by MMSS, which allegedly spread anti-BJP rhetoric and presented questions intended to inflame Muslim voters, such as: “Will you support a party that aims to close madrasas, impose a Uniform Civil Code, or interfere with Sharia law?”
“These efforts are part of a larger conspiracy to create communal unrest,” Somaiya asserted. “During the Lok Sabha elections, I saw first-hand how Muslim women were being polarized in areas like Mumbadevi and Byculla. These NGOs have been exploiting religious fears to manipulate voters for electoral advantage.”
Somaiya’s complaints also extended to concerns about the source of funding for these organisations. He has urged the Election Commission to investigate the financial backing of these NGOs, suspecting foreign involvement or illicit funding sources aimed at destabilizing India’s democratic processes.
Adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing political dispute is a report by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), published on November 5, 2024. The study claims that illegal immigrants, particularly from neighboring countries, are influencing the demographic and political landscape of Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra. According to the TISS study, these immigrants, many of whom are reportedly registered as voters, are being used by certain political groups to manipulate elections and boost specific vote banks.
The TISS study points out that these immigrants often take up low-skilled jobs, contributing to economic tension by suppressing wages and creating resentment among the local population. Furthermore, the study alleges that several NGOs have facilitated the registration of these immigrants as voters, either through manipulation or lack of proper oversight. This has raised alarms about the integrity of the electoral process, with critics arguing that such actions undermine the fairness of the elections and risk altering the state’s democratic structure.
The most controversial aspect of the ongoing political battle in Maharashtra is the claim that the Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh and its affiliated NGOs are engaged in what is being called ‘vote jihad’—a deliberate attempt to rally Muslim voters for the purpose of defeating the BJP and shifting the political balance in favor of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), a coalition of the Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena-UBT. According to critics, this effort is not about promoting secularism but about using religious identity to manipulate the vote bank in favor of certain political parties.
A further allegation, raised by BJP spokespersons and independent analysts alike, is that these NGOs have been involved in spreading hatred against the BJP and its supporters, particularly by accusing the party of targeting Muslims through its policies. The rhetoric used by these NGOs often portrays the BJP as an existential threat to Muslim communities, encouraging voters to see their political choices as part of a broader religious struggle.
While the Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh maintains that it is simply advocating for greater political participation and voter engagement, the ongoing controversy has heightened tensions in the state, with both supporters and detractors accusing one another of playing dangerous games with religion and politics.
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