Fadnavis vs Owaisi: Tensions Escalate in Poll-Bound Maharashtra with Sharp Exchanges Over ‘Vote Jihad’ and Aurangzeb

November 12, 2024 | Mumbai, Maharashtra

Fadnavis vs Owaisi: In the heated build-up to the November 20 state elections in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi have entered a verbal war, with both leaders exchanging sharp criticisms. The latest exchange revolves around issues of religious politics, historical legacy, and accusations about ideological roots.

Fadnavis Takes on Owaisi Over ‘Vote Jihad’ and Aurangzeb’s Legacy

During a public rally, Fadnavis warned Owaisi against his increased presence in Maharashtra, questioning his authority and relevance in the state. Referring to Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor, Fadnavis strongly condemned any glorification of his legacy. He claimed that true Indian Muslims do not revere Aurangzeb, going so far as to assert, “Even a dog wouldn’t urinate on Aurangzeb’s legacy,” in a video circulated by news agency IANS.

Mumbai, Maharashtra: Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "These days Owaisi has started coming here. My Hyderabadi brother, stay there, don't come here, you have no business here. I don’t understand what’s happening- coming here, we’re being threatened; Aurangzeb is being glorified… pic.twitter.com/t5OtCrjVs8

— IANS (@ians_india) November 11, 2024

This remark followed Fadnavis’s “vote jihad” comment, where he suggested that the opposition was influencing votes through communal tactics. He argued that Maharashtra must counter this alleged “vote jihad” with a “Dharma Yuddha,” or righteous war, of the ballot.

Owaisi Fires Back, Invokes Freedom Struggle

Asaduddin Owaisi, in response, challenged Fadnavis’s remarks, accusing BJP’s ideological ancestors of siding with the British during the freedom movement instead of standing up to them. He also dismissed the “vote jihad” claim, positioning himself as someone who had fought against British rule in spirit through his ideological lineage. During a rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Owaisi asserted, “Modi, Shah, and Fadnavis together cannot defeat me in a debate.”

Fadnavis vs Owaisi: Historical Tensions: Razakars vs. British Collaborators

Fadnavis vs Owaisi: Fadnavis’s criticisms extended beyond Aurangzeb, as he accused Owaisi of being a “descendant of Razakars.” The Razakars were a paramilitary force aligned with the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, who opposed Hyderabad’s integration into India and are remembered in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region for alleged atrocities during that period. Fadnavis claimed the Razakars were responsible for terrorizing local communities, particularly in Marathwada, by looting, violence, and intimidation.

High-Stakes Elections and Alliances in Maharashtra

As Maharashtra prepares for elections, the BJP, under the Mahayuti alliance with Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, faces off against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which includes the Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar’s NCP, and the Congress. The political stakes are high, with leaders intensifying their rhetoric as they vie for voter support.

The recent exchange underscores how historical events and identity politics continue to play a significant role in Maharashtra’s electoral landscape. With only days remaining before voters head to the polls, the war of words between BJP and AIMIM suggests that religion and historical legacies will remain central themes in the state’s political discourse.