Maharashtra minister and leader of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, Chhagan Bhujbal, strongly criticized the BJP's '400 paar' campaign on Tuesday, claiming it harmed the electoral prospects of the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Sena, and NCP.

Bhujbal stated that the campaign created a fear among Dalits that the Constitution might be changed. He also questioned the decision to include Manusmriti in the state's school curriculum, noting that it upset both Dalits and OBCs.

?The persistent rhetoric surrounding ?400 paar? led Dalits to fear an impending constitutional amendment under BJP governance. Addressing this concern during the campaign proved to be quite challenging for us. The resonance of this narrative within the electorate?s consciousness has already manifested in the recent polling,? Bhujbal said while addressing party members at an NCP meeting in Mumbai.

He further criticized the state government's recent decision to add verses from Manusmriti into the proposed Maharashtra State Curriculum Framework (SCF). This change is part of promoting the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) in School Education, which also suggests including texts like the Bhagavad Gita and Manache Shlok by Samarth Ramdas Swami for memorization and recitation competitions.

?The inclusion of Manusmriti in the curriculum is a matter of concern. Such actions could impact us electorally. This initiative must be halted. Though seemingly insignificant now, it could pose future challenges,? Bhujbal added.