On the final day of campaigning for the 2024 Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) slogan, 'Ek Rahenge Toh Safe Rahenge' (we will stay safe if we stay united), referred to the “unity” between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani. Gandhi also referred to Adani getting the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. The BJP shot back, calling Rahul “chota popat” (little parrot), which the party claimed was coined by Shiv Sena founder, the late Bal Thackeray.Meanwhile, BJP’s Champai Soren, who recently switched over from the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), said “we have to uproot the infiltrators”. Gandhi, too, reiterated that his party will conduct a caste census and increase reservation if voted to power. These issues and others such as a row over the ‘Batenge To Katenge’ slogan of Yogi Adityanath and the BJP’s pitch for ‘Mati, Beti, Roti’ have been dominating the headlines. Here’s a look at the key talking points in the 2024 Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections. Batenge To Katenge/ Ek Hain To Safe Hain While campaigning in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath raised his slogan of “Batenge to Katenge” (divided we fall). Not just the opposition, this even divided some allies of the ruling Mahayuti (grand alliance) in Maharashtra and BJP party members. While the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) supported Yogi’s statement, others such as Nationalist Congress Party chief and deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar, and BJP leaders Ashok Chavan and Pankaja Munde pushed back saying the statement was in “bad taste”. Ajit said the statement had no place in a state that operated on the principles of BR Ambedkar. Amid the blowback, Prime Minister Narendra Modi coined the slogan of “Ek Hain To Safe Hain” (if we are united, we are safe), while campaigning in the state later. Modi said: “They do not want SCs, STs and OBCs to progress and get their due recognition. Remember, ‘Ek Hai Toh Safe Hai’. Ladki Bahin/Maiya Samman Yojana After a reduced mandate in the Lok Sabha elections on the national level, the ruling coalition in Maharashtra launched the Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme. Under this, women between the ages of 21 and 60, with an annual income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh, would get Rs 1500 every month. Even NCP founder Sharad Pawar told The Indian Express that the direct cash transfer scheme may have some impact in the Assembly elections even as households were reeling under the impact of inflation. The Eknath Shinde-led government said it would increase the payout to Rs 2500 if voted back to power. The opposition bloc, on the other hand, promised to double it to Rs 3,000. In Jharkhand, too, the JMM government led by Hemant Soren has announced the Jharkhand Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana where eligible women beneficiaries will receive Rs 1000 per month. But economists have raised concerns over these initiatives’ likely impact on the fiscal health of the states. Mati, beti, roti/Infiltrators Looking to make inroads into Jharkhand and win back the chief minister’s seat, the BJP has been attacking the JMM government over “illegal immigrants”. It has alleged that immigrants from Bangladesh are snatching away the mati (land/soil), beti (daughter), and roti (food) of the locals. Marathas vs OBC Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil withdrew his candidates from all seats ahead of the elections but political experts feel he still holds considerable sway over the community and how it votes. That will be keenly watched in a state that has seen multiple agitations for reservation over the past few years. The ruling coalition, and the BJP in particular, has been wooing the OBC community with the PM speaking of the opposition’s attempt to cause a divide. Dharavi project/Adani The Congress has been attacking the Narendra Modi-led central government of diverting projects from Maharashtra to other states and giving all projects to big industrialists such as Gautam Adani. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke about the Dharavi Redevelopment Project going to the Adani group as an example. Baramati family contest a battle of prestige for Ajit NCP leader Ajit Pawar’s wife had lost to his cousin sister and daughter of Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, in the Lok Sabha elections. Now, the Baramati seat will see another high-profile family contest as Ajit will take on nephew Yugendra, who’s entered the political fray for the first time. Sharad Pawar also campaigned for Yugendra, the Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate.
