The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has developed a robust strategy for the forthcoming Maharashtra Assembly election, focusing heavily on its Hindutva agenda. The party plans to aggressively highlight issues such as “Jihad,” “Love Jihad,” and “Land Jihad” to galvanize its voter base.

Starting August 4, the BJP-supported Sakal Hindu Samaj will resume its “Hindu Jan Aakrosh Morchas” across the state. These rallies, which began in late 2022, involve members marching with saffron flags and headwear, followed by speeches targeting the Muslim community. Right-wing organizations like Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Sanatan Sanstha are key organizers of these events.

In response to the polarization of Muslim votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP will launch a “Jagran campaign” against “Vote Jihad” throughout Maharashtra. The party leadership believes that addressing issues like “land jihad,” “love jihad,” and waqf land-related cases will help polarize the pro-Hindutva vote bank.

A recent meeting between Maharashtra BJP and RSS officials highlighted the importance of Hindutva in the upcoming elections. The directive from the RSS includes re-introducing Jan Aakrosh Morchas, starting in Solapur on August 4 and Amravati on August 14. BJP MLAs Nitesh Rane and Gopichand Padalkar have been tasked with coordinating these morchas.

BJP leaders have also been vocal about ‘encroachments’ at Vishalgad Fort in Kolhapur, which led to protests and subsequent demolitions by the district administration. The demolition actions have sparked violence against Muslims, raising concerns about targeting the community under the guise of legal actions.

During the BJP’s state convention in Pune, Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, referring to him as the “leader of the Aurangzeb fan club.” Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also addressed a meeting of Hindu leaders at the RSS-aligned Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini.

In response to the BJP’s strategy, other political parties, including the NCP led by Sharad Pawar, are preparing their electoral strategies. The NCP plans to focus on issues like Maratha reservation and farmers’ concerns. Sharad Pawar has recently met with Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde to address these issues.