• Source:JND
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The political tension between the two alliances, Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), over polarisation of voters in the upcoming Legislative Assembly polls further escalated after Sharad Pawar accused Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of allegedly trying to create religious discord by using the word 'Vote Jihad'.

The two terms 'Vote Jihad' and 'dharmyuddh' have been at the centre of the discussions for the past few days. While Mahayuti leaders, especially Devendra Fadnavis, are accusing MVA leaders of favouring minority voters, the MVA leaders are accusing the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance of dividing society by raising slogans like 'Batenge to katenge'.

Sharad Pawar on Saturday slammed Devendra Fadnavis and said that while the state is facing so many serious issues like farmer suicide and unemployment, the deputy chief minister is making statements that might divide society. 

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"Devendra Fadnavis and his associates are trying to create religious discord by using the word Vote Jihad. Farmers are committing suicide, prices of soybean and cotton are continuously falling, farmers are angry. Educational institutions are increasing, youth are getting educated but they do not have jobs. There are so many other such questions in Maharashtra," Pawar was quoted as saying by ANI. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also criticised Fadnavis for allegedly dividing society. 

Pawar's criticism came after Devendra Fadnavis accused the opposition of doing "vote jihad" and urged voters to counter it with a "dharmyuddh" of votes. Fadnavis said that the opposition is taking help from religious scholars to manipulate the voters and alleged that religious preachers like Sajjad Nomani were trying to polarise the election.

"Vote jihad is going on in the state. Sajjad Nomani says, Vote jihad slogan has been given and you heard in the video that who is the leader of this vote jihad. I want to tell you all that if they do vote jihad, we have to do 'dharmyuddh' of vote. Ek hain to safe hain," he was quoted as saying by ANI.

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Fadnavis also accused some opposition parties of trying to polarise the elections to gain votes. "We are not against any religion. We have given our scheme to all. But some parties are trying to polarise the election for votes," he added. 

He also brought attention to a 17-point charter reportedly submitted by the Ulama Council to the MVA. Fadnavis said that few of the demands from the Ulama Council were dangerous, including a proposed 10 per cent reservation for Muslims and the withdrawal of cases against Muslim youth involved in riots between 2012 and 2024. He further claimed that the Maha Vikas Aghadi had come to an agreement with the Ulama Council.

Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra legislative assembly will be held on November 20 and the counting of votes will take place three days later on November 23.