Maharashtra Assembly polls: Islamic scholar faces BJP backlash over ‘vote jihad’ allegations

A close associate of the late Maulana Wali Rahmani, the former head of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Nomani currently serves as the spokesperson for the AIMPLB.

69-year-old Islamic scholar Maulana Khalil-ur-Rahman Sajjad Nomani.

In the final phase of campaigning for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, BJP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, have repeatedly raised the issue of “Vote Jihad,” arguing that the consolidation of Muslim votes must be countered by Hindu voters through a “Dharma Yudh” (religious war). In the midst of this high-stakes campaigning, Maulana Khalil-ur-Rahman Sajjad Nomani, a 69-year-old Islamic scholar, has found himself at the centre of a political storm after releasing a list urging voters in Maharashtra to support candidates from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

The list, issued last week, calls for voters to cast their ballots with the intention of strengthening secularism and ensuring the formation of an inclusive government. The list’s release did not sit well with the BJP, which has labelled it as an example of “Vote Jihad,” a term used by party leaders to suggest an organised effort to consolidate Muslim votes against BJP candidates. Fadnavis and other BJP leaders, including Kirit Somaiya, have accused Nomani of encouraging vote-bank politics.

Somaiya filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission, alleging that Nomani’s actions amounted to hate speech and a violation of the model code of conduct.

Who is Nomani and what has he said

Shaikh Khalil-ur-Rahman Sajjad Nomani is the son of renowned Islamic theologian Maulana Manzoor Nomani. Born in Lucknow, he received his early religious education at various esteemed Islamic seminaries, including Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh and Madina University in Saudi Arabia.

A close associate of the late Maulana Wali Rahmani, the former head of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Nomani currently serves as the spokesperson for the AIMPLB. In addition to his scholarly and religious pursuits, he runs several madrassas and is the head of the Khanqah Nomaniya Mujaddidiyah, a spiritual centre located in Neral, Raigad district. Nomani is also a prominent voice in the digital space, with a well-received YouTube channel that boasts over 400,000 subscribers and features more than 700 videos on Islamic jurisprudence and contemporary issues.

Politically engaged and assertive, Nomani has long been a advocate for greater political mobilisation and political representation within the Muslim community.

However, Nomani is no stranger to controversy. One such incident occurred in April 2023, when a video surfaced of Nomani delivering a sermon in which he controversially stated, “Do not send girls to school or college alone. It is haram (forbidden).” The remarks sparked widespread criticism, particularly from women’s rights groups and secular activists, and brought renewed attention to his public statements on social issues.

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As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections approached, Nomani intensified his political efforts, urging Muslim voters to exercise their electoral power more effectively. His call for political engagement gained further momentum as the Maharashtra Assembly elections neared. In particular, he reached out to key leaders of the MVA alliance, including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, advocating for greater Muslim representation in the state legislature.

“I have informed Sharad Pawar, with supporting data, that there are 25 constituencies where Muslims can win and contribute to the formation of a secular, democratic government in Maharashtra,” Nomani had said, while seeking greater number of seats for Muslim candidates.

On November 13, Nomani took a more assertive step, releasing a list of 269 MVA candidates that he claimed should be supported in the elections. The list also included 17 non-MVA candidates, bringing the total number of recommended candidates to 288, with 23 Muslims among them.

On November 14, Nomani issued another statement which further antagonised the BJP. “Our opposition is only to candidates who are associated with parties whose belief is in changing the Constitution,” Nomani declared. While not directly naming the BJP, he suggested that if such forces were not checked, the secular fabric of the country would be at risk.

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“If they win in the state, their spirit will be high, and the central government will find new vigor in pushing its hidden agenda of changing the Constitution. If they are defeated here, the government in the center will also fall,” he warned.

What has BJP said

The BJP was quick to criticise Nomani for his remarks. Somaiya filed a formal complaint against him, accusing him of promoting hate speech and calling for “Vote Jihad.”

Fadnavis also joined the fray, criticising Nomani’s statements. “In the video that has come out, he is calling for the identification and boycott of those who supported the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. He further calls for ‘vote jihad,’ naming Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, and Rahul Gandhi as the leaders of this movement. What kind of politics is this? We have never seen such polarisation in politics before. Congress and its allies, in the panic of defeat, are trying to bring forward ideas that divide society and the country,” Fadnavis said.

In response to the allegations, Nomani defended his position, questioning the accusations of “Vote Jihad.” “Out of the list of 288 candidates I released, barring 23 candidates, all are Hindus. Is calling for people to vote for Hindus now considered ‘Vote Jihad’” he said on Saturday.

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