Mumbai, Maharashtra: The Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra is facing internal divisions over Yogi Adityanath’s contentious slogan “Batenge To Katenge” (Division leads to destruction). Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has come to the defense of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s slogan, countering criticism from Ajit Pawar.
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Fadnavis targeted Pawar, saying, “For decades, Ajit Pawar has aligned with ideologies that claim to be secular but are actually anti-Hindu.” He emphasized that true secularism is lacking among those who identify as secularists, implying that Pawar’s understanding of secularism is flawed.
Defending the Slogan
Fadnavis defended Adityanath’s slogan, stating, “I don’t see anything wrong with Yogi ji’s slogans. History shows that whenever our country was divided, we became slaves.” He highlighted the importance of unity, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s complementary slogan, “Ek hai toh safe hai” (United we stand, safe we stand).
Division Within the Alliance
The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is struggling to find common ground on this issue. Other BJP leaders, including Pankaja Munde and Ashok Chavan, have expressed discomfort with the slogan, while the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has capitalized on the division.
Upcoming Elections
As Maharashtra prepares for assembly elections on November 20, the controversy surrounding Adityanath’s slogan has become a significant point of debate. With voting scheduled to take place in a single phase, the outcome will determine the fate of 288 assembly seats.
