As the Maharashtra elections approach, the BJP faces an uphill battle in Marathwada, where it failed to secure any Lok Sabha seats six months ago. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), a coalition of Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction), won eight out of nine seats, while the Aurangabad seat went to Eknath Shinde’s faction. Now, the BJP hopes to rally support by leveraging Eknath Shinde’s popularity and his government’s renaming of Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, associating the city more with Maratha pride than with its historical connection to Aurangzeb.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s image is prominently displayed across Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, with Mahayuti (BJP-Shiv Sena alliance) campaigns reminding voters of the city’s name change, a move intended to resonate with Marathas who admire the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son, Chhatrapati Sambhaji. Additionally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan “Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain” underscores the BJP’s pitch for unity in its attempt to win Maratha votes. However, gaining Maratha support has proven difficult for the BJP, largely due to the unresolved issue of Maratha reservations.
The demand for Maratha reservations remains a critical point, with activist Manoj Jarange painting Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as an obstacle to progress. A Supreme Court ruling previously struck down a 10 percent reservation for Marathas introduced by the Fadnavis government, leaving Marathas frustrated by what they see as broken promises. Jarange’s recent decision to withdraw his candidates from the race in Marathwada strengthens the MVA, as Maratha votes are likely to consolidate behind the coalition rather than being divided, which is especially beneficial for Congress candidate Lahu Hanumant Rao in the BJP-held Aurangabad (East) seat.
BJP leaders argue they are committed to securing reservations for Marathas but without impacting the quotas allocated to OBCs, a group that has rallied in BJP’s favor, worried about the impact of expanding reservations. BJP supporters in Marathwada emphasize the party’s aim to fracture the MVA’s Maratha-Muslim-Dalit coalition, strengthening OBC support as a counterweight.
Prime Minister Modi is set to hold a rally in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, further reinforcing the Mahayuti’s outreach. Meanwhile, Jarange’s decision to avoid criticizing Eknath Shinde has fostered unity within the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, positioning Eknath Shinde as a crucial Maratha face for the coalition. While the BJP is contesting 20 seats in Marathwada and Shiv Sena 16, the alliance’s strategy centers on maximizing Eknath Shinde’s appeal to secure these critical seats in a region where the MVA’s popularity remains robust.
