Hindutva and counter-polarization helped Mahayuti in Maha polls: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Hindutva played an important role in the recent state assembly elections and counter-polarization helped the Mahayuti alliance achieve a big victory .

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed at the Secretariat after his oath-taking ceremony, in Mumbai on December 6, 2024.Photography: ANI Photo

Fadnavis, who was sworn in as Maharashtra Chief Minister for the third time on Thursday, said in an interview to news channel ABP that Hindutva and development are two sides of the same coin and describes the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Hindutva as a way of life.

He also alleged that the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance had entered into an agreement with the likes of (Islamic scholar) Sajjad Nomani, whereby it was agreed to withdraw riot complaints filed against Muslims since 2012.

During the election campaign, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had raised the issue batenge toh katenge (divided, we are destroyed), which was followed by the slogan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ek hain toh safe hain (United we are safe) call.

During his campaign, Fadnavis had countered Nomani’s alleged call for ‘vote-jihad’ against the Mahayuti government by making a speech in favor of ‘vote-jihad’ against the Mahayuti government. dharma-yudh of voice.

In the interview, Fadnavis said, “Voter turnout increased because the Congress tried to suppress Hindus. When you try to suppress someone, they increase sharply. Hindutva played an important role and counter-polarization helped the Mahayuti alliance. Our development projects and Hindutva have worked. Hindutva and development are two sides of the same coin. »

Turnout in this year’s parliamentary elections was 66.05 percent, compared to 61.1 percent in 2019.

“BJP’s Hindutva is a way of life and is not linked to religious rituals. Muslims have different religious rituals. One should not have a narrow view of Hindutva,” Fadnavis said.

Through his actions, Prime Minister Modi has shown how inclusive Hindutva is, he added.

“Those who were afraid to go to temples for fear of losing Muslim votes now visit them frequently,” he said during a visit to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Besides Fadnavis as CM, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde and Nationalist Congress Party president Ajit Pawar were sworn in as deputy chief ministers of the state.

On the cabinet expansion, Fadnavis said it would be done before December 16, when the winter session of the state legislature begins in Nagpur.

“There are three parties and each of them will receive due respect. We are almost there. Discussions are underway for the distribution of the portfolio,” he said.

“I will try to establish a dialogue with all political leaders which has stopped since 2019,” he said.

Fadnavis said he had changed for the better since 2014.

The Mahayuti alliance won 230 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly, out of the total 288. The BJP won 132 seats, the Shiv Sena 57 and the NCP 41 seats.