NEW DELHI: The campaign for the high-stakes election to the Assemblies of Maharashtra and Jharkhand ended on Monday with the BJP-led NDA and the Congress and JMM-led INDIA bloc pitted against each other in a do-or-die battle on November 20.
For the INDIA bloc, the top priority is to retain Jharkhand and oust the BJP-led Mahayuti, comprising the Shiv Sena and NCP, in Maharashtra. The NDA is in power in 19 states and one UT, while the INDIA parties have governments in eight states and two UTs.
In Jharkhand, the tribal vote will be keenly watched, especially in view of the BJP’s poll narrative against alleged illegal immigration and usurping of tribal land on the pretext of marriage with local girls. The BJP’s pro-Uniform Civil Code and National Register of Citizens pitch in Jharkhand will also be on test.
Of the 38 Jharkhand segments going to the polls in the second phase, 18 are in Santhal Pargana. It is an ST-dominated region comprising six districts where PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have promised a law to ensure no tribal land can be unlawfully usurped.
The ruling JMM-led INDIA bloc is riding on its guarantees. In the previous Assembly elections, the JMM had bagged 30 seats and the BJP 25 as against 37 in 2014. The JMM-Congress-RJD collectively won 47 seats, securing a majority in the 81-member House.
In Maharashtra, the ruling Mahayuti is banking heavily on women voters with the promise of Rs 2,100 to them under an ambitious Ladki Bahin scheme. While the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi, which also includes the Shiv Sena and the NCP (SP), is betting big on the caste census, the Mahayuti has countered the same by pledging to conduct a skill census.
The fate of prominent political dynasts Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena UBT, Sharad Pawar of the NCP (SP) and Ajit Pawar of the NCP is at stake.
The elections will determine if “ek hain to safe hain” slogan of PM Modi and “batenge to katenge” narrative of UP CM Yogi Adityanath will prevail over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s take that industrialist Gautam Adani is “safe under the NDA dispensation”.
On the last day of the electioneering, Rahul accused the PM of prioritising the interests of Adani through the Dharavi redevelopment project. BJP chief JP Nadda hit back, saying, “Ek hain toh safe hain means we are safe if we are united. We are taking everyone together. When you say ‘ek hain to safe hain’, you are not even accompanied by your allies. You are safe only when you are alone.”