BJP should be given the credit for being ingenious about coining slogans which have the capacity of influencing the minds of voters of the country. “ Ram lalla hum aayenge, mandir waheen banaenge” was a slogan which was on the lips of even children at the height of Ram Janmabhoomi temple issue during 90s. Though the BJP had not coined this slogan but then it helped the party to spread the political message of Hindutva it wanted to convey to the masses.

The Modi era started with a bang with “ bahut huee mehngayi kee maar, abki baar modi sarkar”. the term acche din became synonyms with BJP governance with both supporters and opposition using it for their narratives. It never happened that any partymen or any ally of the party pursued a line which is not in consonance with the party slogan.

However, this time BJP has been taken aback after its ally in Maharashtra NCP leader and deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar distanced himself from Batenge toh katenge , a slogan coined by UP CM Yogi Adityanath and being widely used in Maharashtra assembly elections as a poll pitch. He opposed this and said that it may work in UP & not in Maharashtra.

Pawar is a key stakeholder in Mahayuti and his adopting this stance speaks about the manner in which he wants to carry forward his election campaign. There are reasons for this. He represents NCP which got split from the part headed by uncle Sharad Pawar. NCP as such as electorate which is plural in nature i.e. apart from Hindus, Muslims and other caste and religions too form the voter base of this party. If he falters and toes the BJP’s hardline approach, his voters might shift to NCP headed by his uncle and this will be politically naive of him to do so.

So his charting a different course is understandable. But now, BJP leader Pankaja Munde has also opposed this slogan.

Munde , daughter of late BJP strongman Gopinath Munde has said that her politics is different and has said that she believes we should work on development alone. Munde is a former minister and is an influential figure in the state politics.

Though she adopted a safer mode and mentioned that Yogi had given the statement in a different context and heaped praise on PM Modi for welfare activities, but the crux appears to be that she is not comfortable using this slogan. Given the legacy of Gopinath Munde who was deputy CM in first ever BJP Shiv Sena government holds water in Maharashtra & Pankaja is considered as a strong OBC face in the party in state.

After the competition on revdi schemes between both the alliances, This slogan is now the new bone of contention in Maharashtra. With two if its leaders taking a different route, BJP may find itself under fire from MVA, especially Congress.