Dhule: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a fiery campaign speech in Maharashtra’s Dhule, took aim at the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, labelling it the “Aurangzeb fan club” and accusing Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray of betraying the principles of his father, Bal Thackeray.
Shah, a key strategist for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), sought to mobilise voters by drawing stark contrasts between the BJP-led alliance and the MVA, framing the upcoming Assembly elections as a battle between “development” and “destruction”. He claimed the MVA was a coalition of parties that opposed key BJP policies like the construction of the Ram Temple, the abrogation of Article 370 and the surgical strikes against Pakistan.
Shah accused Thackeray of abandoning his father’s principles, highlighting the Shiv Sena’s shift from a staunch ally of the BJP to a key player in the MVA.
“Aghadi (Maha Vikas Aghadi) only wants to appease. To gain power, Uddhav ji has forgotten all the principles of Balasaheb Thackeray. Uddhav babu, who are you sitting with today? Today, you are with those who objected to the renaming of Aurangabad, the construction of Ram temple, the abrogation of Article 370 and also to surgical strike against Pakistan. There are two clear sides in front of people of Maharashtra – Aghadi, which is the Aurangzeb fan club, and the other is Mahayuti which follows the principles of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Veer Savarkar,” Shah stated, using BJP’s previous manifesto promises to fuel nationalist sentiment.
By calling the MVA the “Aurangzeb fan club,” Shah sought to associate the alliance with historical figures perceived as oppressive and anti-Hindu, appealing to a sense of religious identity among a segment of the electorate. This tactic aims to portray the MVA as a threat to Hindu values and traditions.
MVA comprises Congress, NCP(SCP) and Shiv Sena (UBT). It will take on the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance in the Maharashtra assembly election.
Moving beyond the historical narrative, Shah presented a stark contrast between the BJP’s vision for development and the MVA’s alleged “destructive” agenda. He pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s achievements in boosting India’s economy and national security, claiming that India has become a global economic powerhouse and a strong nation under his leadership.
“During (former PM) Manmohan Singh, India was at the eleventh position on the list of world economies but Modi brought the country to the fifth spot. In 2027, India’s economy will be the third largest in the world. Maha Vikas Aghadi makes false promises,” Shah said, aiming to convince voters that the BJP is the party of progress and prosperity.
Shah also targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, addressing the issue of Muslim reservation, arguing that it would negatively impact quotas reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
“A few days ago, Ulemas met the president of the Congress party and said that Muslims should be given reservation,” Shah said.
“If reservation has to be given to Muslims, then reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs will have to be cut. Rahul Baba, not only you but even if your four generations were to come, they cannot cut the quota meant for SCs, STs and OBCs and give it to Muslims,” he added.
