Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis sparked controversy on Sunday, alleging that Bangladeshi migrants in the state are illegally obtaining birth certificates to gain voting rights. During an address at a state BJP convention in Shirdi, Fadnavis referred to this practice as “vote jihad part 2,” claiming it was part of a larger scheme to influence elections.
Fadnavis stated that nearly 100 cases have been reported in the Amravati and Malegaon tehsils in Nashik, where migrants, many of whom are in their 50s, have fraudulently obtained documents. “These Bangladeshi infiltrators are seeking birth certificates as part of vote jihad, and we will not allow a single infiltrator to stay in Maharashtra,” Fadnavis asserted.
He also reiterated his government’s commitment to countering “anarchist forces” that, according to him, aim to sow division along caste and communal lines. Fadnavis urged the public to remain vigilant and strengthen the resolve to maintain social harmony.
The term “vote jihad” has been a point of contention in the past, with Fadnavis using it during his campaign for the November assembly elections. At that time, he had claimed that a certain community had voted in large numbers against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which he linked to this concept of “vote jihad.”
In his speech, Fadnavis also reflected on the BJP’s success in the November assembly polls, where the party secured 132 seats with a remarkable strike rate of 89%. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their leadership, which he credited with restoring confidence among party workers after the setbacks in the previous Lok Sabha elections.
Fadnavis concluded by urging party workers to remain united and prepared for upcoming local body elections, quoting PM Modi’s mantra of “unity ensures safety.”
