On Yogi Adityanath's "Batoge Toh Katoge" Slogan, Ajit Pawar's Rejoinder

Ajit Pawar claimed the BJP follows an "80-20" voter strategy - that seeks the support of the 80 per cent and not the 20 per cent - and this has, at times, marginalised minority voices.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, speaking exclusively with NDTV, called for collective efforts to drive progress in Maharashtra and India. Assembly elections are scheduled in Maharashtra on November 20, with Mr Pawar contesting against his nephew Yugendra Pawar, the candidate of the rival Nationalist Congress Party faction led by Sharad Pawar.

Commenting on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's slogan "Batoge toh katoge" (If we divide, we will be cut), Mr Pawar said, "All castes should unite and think about India. They should think about Maharashtra. Development cannot happen by creating such differences among each other."

Mr Pawar claimed the BJP follows an "80-20" voter strategy - that seeks the support of the 80 per cent and not the 20 per cent - and this has, at times, marginalised minority voices. Calling for a return to Maharashtra's philosophy of inclusion inspired by leaders like Shivaji, Shahu, Phule, and Ambedkar, he said, "I want to follow a political ideology in which everyone is united whether Hindu, Muslim, Dalit or Maratha."