Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis has described the party’s slogans, “Batenge toh katenge” (if divided, we will perish) and “Ek hain toh safe hain” (united, we are safe), as a counter to what he alleged, are the Congress party’s “vote jihad” tactics aimed at consolidating Muslim votes.
In an interview with The Indian Express, Fadnavis claimed that Congress adopted strategies to polarise Muslim voters during the Lok Sabha elections, which, he argued, resulted in significant electoral losses for the BJP in several constituencies.
“During the Lok Sabha polls, Congress indulged in vote jihad. For example, in Dhule, we had a lead of 1.9 lakh votes across five assembly segments. However, they secured a lead in one segment, Malegaon Central, and defeated us by a margin of just 4,000 votes. Similar patterns were observed in 11 other constituencies where there was extreme polarisation of Muslim votes. Fatwas were issued by maulvis, and Congress simultaneously created divisions among Hindus along caste lines. On one hand, they polarised Muslims, and on the other, divided Hindus,” Fadnavis alleged.
The BJP leader stated that the party’s unity slogans are a positive response to what he views as politically motivated religious and caste-based divisions. “Historically, whenever there was division in society, the country suffered. ‘Batenge toh katenge’ and ‘Ek hain toh safe hain’ are slogans that advocate unity. There is nothing wrong with promoting harmony,” he said.
When questioned about the focus on Hindu unity rather than extending the idea to all religions, Fadnavis justified the approach as a reaction to religiously-driven political narratives. “Have you ever seen Hindu religious leaders issuing fatwas declaring it dishonest to God if Hindus don’t vote for the BJP? These political fatwas are problematic as they create communal divides. We need to counter such narratives,” he explained.
He further added that while the BJP emphasises unity through these slogans, the broader focus remains on development. “In my speeches, 95 per cent of the content is about development, while only 5 per cent addresses countering such divisive narratives. Our slogans aim to reinforce the importance of staying united,” he said.
Fadnavis’ remarks reflect the BJP’s stance of addressing what it perceives as divisive politics while maintaining its focus on development and unity. However, the comments are likely to fuel further political debates on the role of religion and caste in electoral politics.
