With the Maharashtra assembly elections just around the corner, Union Home Minister Amit Shah took aim at the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance on Wednesday, describing it as a symbol of “Vinash” (destruction). Speaking at a campaign rally in Dhule, Shah contrasted the Mahayuti alliance with the MVA, appealing to voters to bring “vikas” (development) over “vinash” back to Maharashtra.
“Mahayuti means ‘Vikas’ and Aghadi means ‘Vinash’…You have to decide whether to bring to power those who do development or those who cause destruction,” Shah declared, rallying support for the BJP-led alliance with Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
The BJP leader highlighted the financial allocations given to Maharashtra under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, stating that during the UPA government from 2004 to 2014, Maharashtra received only ₹1.51 lakh crore in central funds. “Modiji has given ₹10.15 lakh crore to Maharashtra between 2014 and 2024,” he added, taking aim at opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sharad Pawar for their alleged failure to prioritize Maharashtra’s development.
Reflecting on India’s economic progress, Shah noted that “Modiji has made the country prosperous and safer,” attributing Modi’s leadership to India’s rise to the fifth-largest economy globally, up from the eleventh position during the Manmohan Singh era. “In 2027, India’s economy will be the third largest in the world,” he claimed, underscoring the economic growth achieved under the NDA government.
Shah also criticized MVA leaders for making unfulfilled promises, calling their commitments “hollow.” He cited Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s statement that only achievable promises should be made, arguing that the Congress governments in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana have failed to deliver on their promises. “But promises made by Modiji are ‘pathar ki lakeer’ (set in stone),” Shah insisted, positioning Modi’s commitments as more reliable.
Touching on the Ram Mandir issue, Shah accused Congress of deliberately delaying the temple’s construction, using the phrase “Atkakar, Latkakar, Bhatkakar rakha.” He further criticized opposition leaders, alleging that they refrained from attending the temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya to avoid upsetting their vote bank. “First time in 550 years, Ram Lalla celebrated Diwali in Ayodhya,” Shah noted, underscoring the cultural and religious significance of the moment.
As Maharashtra gears up for a two-way contest between the Mahayuti alliance and the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP, all eyes are on the election scheduled for November 20, with vote counting set for November 23. The 288 assembly seats will see fierce competition as the Mahayuti and MVA present contrasting visions for Maharashtra’s future.