Elections In Maharashtra: An Unmitigated Political Chaos

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 19 November 2024 "Sooba-e-Maharashtra Ka Har Shakhs Iss Vaqt Pesho-Pas Mein Hai Ki Iss Intikhaab Mein Kaun Vaaqai Qaabil-e-Intikhaab Hai...." Editorial in a national Urdu daily (Everyone in Maharashtra is in a dilemma as to who's worth-electing in this election) Maharashtra is in the throes of election fever and being based in Poona, yours truly has a ringside view of this complete charade. The state will go to the polls tomorrow on November 20. Poona and Bombay are the epicentres of all political movements, missions and also mishaps. At the moment, perhaps the dirtiest politics is being played in Maharashtra by pandering to the local and ethnic sentiments of Maharashtrians. Those, living outside Maharashtra, aren't aware of the kind of caste and nationalistic politics is played in this state by all political outfits, esp. by the current political dispensation. Maharashtra is extremely caste and creed-centric and the political candidates are projected on the basis of their caste and creed. It's indeed some sort of a Vote Jihad, though these people are unaware of the meaning and import of a profound word like Jihad. Maharashtrians tend to get swayed by caste politics and Shivaji whom they call Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. In all practicality, Shivaji is a presiding deity of the state. Though I read this in an Urdu newspaper, there's no denying the fact that candidates and their supporters are motivating voters by stoking their ethnocentric and religious sentiments and also by invoking Shivaji at the drop of a hat. Voters are also to be blamed for not applying their brains. Because of the political instability for a long time, Maharashtra is in a very bad shape. The current political dispensation is introducing Laadli Bahan, Laadli this, Laadli that and all weird temptations to entice the voters. No one is bothered that electricity per unit is the costliest in Maharashtra. Political parties are using the hard-earned money of the masses to please a large section of people who could prove to be the game-changers in the ensuing hustings. Every candidate is covertly or overtly distributing money to ensure his/her victory. As you all know, the general tenor in India is that Muslims are not in favour of BJP and they prefer Congress, this political bias is being used very cleverly by all the parties to their advantage. This is obvious in Maharashtra as well. Otherwise also, the Muslims have always been the pawns on India's political chessboard. This type of polarisation and prejudice is unthinkable. The so-called democracy has already been relegated to mild autocracy in India. It'll soon degenerate into downright despotism. Let's see what transpires in Maharashtra in the days to come. Though I've a Panglossian attitude towards everything, I ain't very optimistic about the outcome of this election. We're already in the soup. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/current-affairs/elections-maharashtra-political-chaos/d/133750 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism