Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Maharashtra government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, questioning its recent decisions to increase the honorarium and salaries of madrassa teachers. Raut dubbed these moves as "vote jihad" and alleged that they were implemented to influence the upcoming Assembly elections in the state, which are likely to take place next month, as the current Assembly's term ends on 26 November.
"Is this (schemes like Ladki Bahin and salary hike of madrassa teachers) not vote jihad? The salaries should increase for those who teach children, but they (BJP) would have called it vote jihad had we done it," Raut remarked, criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its policies, as quoted by news agency PTI.
Raut further questioned whether other schemes, such as the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana or the decision to hike the working capital of the Maulana Azad Financial Corporation from Rs 700 crore to Rs 1,000 crore, were also introduced with electoral arithmetic in mind.
Maharashtra Congress Also Questions Maharashtra Govt's Move, BJP Dismisses 'Vote Bank' Charge
Congress leader Naseem Khan echoed Raut's sentiments, suggesting that the BJP's decision to raise the honorarium and salaries of madrassa teachers was politically motivated. "Why is the BJP not taking action against its leaders who are threatening Muslims?" Khan asked, questioning the ruling party's intentions. This remark can be seen in reference to controversial statements by MLA Nitesh Rane who has been booked under multiple FIRs due to his controversial remarks.
Khan also emphasised that the increase in salaries and the boost in the working capital of the Maulana Azad Financial Corporation were not aimed at uplifting the Muslim community but were designed to ensure that the BJP improves its performance compared to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, despite these alleged motives, he welcomed both decisions, stating, "The countdown of the ruling alliance's defeat in the Maharashtra polls has begun."
Responding to the accusations, senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya hit back, denying that the government’s decisions were driven by vote-bank politics. "The government has not increased the salaries of Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut whose party resorted to vote jihad in the Lok Sabha polls," Somaiya remarked. He further claimed that the BJP-led Mahayuti government does not discriminate on religious lines when it comes to sectors like health and education.
Earlier in the month, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had also blamed "vote jihad" for the Mahayuti alliance's poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra.
As per the cabinet decision, the working capital of the Maulana Azad Financial Corporation is set to rise from Rs 700 crore to Rs 1,000 crore. Additionally, the honorarium for madrassa teachers holding D.Ed degrees will be increased from Rs 6,000 to Rs 16,000, while teachers with BA, B.Ed, and BSc degrees will see their honorarium rise from Rs 8,000 to Rs 18,000.