In a bid to expand its reach among Muslim voters in Maharashtra, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has unveiled a strategic plan to appoint Muslim leaders in 48 Lok Sabha constituencies across the state. The move comes as the party acknowledges that an increasing number of Muslim voters are "impressed with PM Narendra Modi's work." An article in the Indian Express mentioned that BJP Maharashtra Chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule made this announcement on Thursday, following a meeting of the BJP's minority front, Alpsankhyak Aghadi, held in Pune on Wednesday.
Engaging Muslim Voters
Chandrashekhar Bawankule expressed confidence that the BJP's efforts would resonate with Muslim families and women, estimating that "at least 20 percent of Muslim families and women will vote for us in the 2024 general election." To achieve this, the party's Alpasankhyank Aghadi will dispatch 48 Muslim leaders on a tour of the corresponding Lok Sabha constituencies, where they will highlight the work carried out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state government under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde.
Outreach Strategy
Under the leadership of Alpsankhyak Aghadi President Idris Multani, a comprehensive outreach plan has been devised to engage various segments of the Muslim community, including Pasmanda Muslims and OBC sections. This extensive initiative is scheduled to span 13 months, during which the Muslim leaders will visit homes as part of the "Ghar Chalo Abhiyan," with the ambitious goal of reaching 13 lakh homes across the state.
Addressing Communal Tensions
Responding to concerns about recent communal tensions and incidents, including the recent communal violence in Satara district, Bawankule emphasized that only a minute fraction of the population, approximately 0.001 percent, seeks to disrupt societal harmony. He cautioned against generalizing blame, stressing that individuals engaging in anti-national and anti-social activities could belong to any community. Bawankule reaffirmed that it was incorrect to assume that the entire Muslim community opposes the BJP, asserting that the party had a substantial support base within this demographic.
Growing Support Among Muslims
Chandrashekhar Bawankule further noted the increasing alignment of Muslim families and women with the BJP. He drew parallels between this support and the nation's scientific achievements, such as Chandrayaan's successful Moon landing and Aditya L1's mission to study the Sun. Additionally, he cited international recognition and support for Prime Minister Modi as factors contributing to this growing support within the Muslim community, with an expectation that at least 20 percent of them would vote for the BJP.
Maratha Reservation Assurance
Amidst ongoing discussions regarding Maratha community reservation, Bawankule assured that the state government is actively working to fulfill their demand without affecting the quotas allocated to other communities. He emphasized the commitment to maintaining harmony among different communities and pledged to grant Maratha reservation through a dedicated category that would not impact the quotas of OBC or Vimukta Jati Nomadic Tribes communities. Acknowledging that this process would require time, Bawankule noted that the government had sought patience from the agitators.
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