BJP 'Hijack' Sena's Shivaji Icon

BJP president Amit Shah has invoked Chhatrapati Shivaji as the mascot of the party's campaign in the state to woo the Maratha vote bank. At a late night meeting with state leaders on Thursday, Shah said the party had to shed its 'Brahmin-Bania' image and take over Shiv Sena's Shivaji icon to gain a foothold in Maharashtra.

Key campaigners, including state party chief Devendra Fadnavis, Pankaja Munde, Vinod Tawade, were told to put in all efforts to build a Maharashtra-centric image of the party and weave the campaign around Shivaji's concept of good governance. He insisted that the party had to take along Marathas, who constitute about 32% of the state's population.

Claiming Shivaji's legacy is part of a strategy to change the party's 'Brahmin-Baniya' image, which has started figuring in the NCP-Congress' campaign, said a senior BJP leader. Besides, Shah clearly hopes the plan would checkmate partner Sena, which has held political proprietorship over Shivaji for years.

Not surprisingly, the BJP's official election campaign features both its bankable icons ¡ª 'Chhatrapati Shivajincha Ashirvad, Chalo Chale Modi Ke Saath (with the blessings of Chhatrapati Shivaji, lets walk with Modi).

Fadnavis told party workers that they should visit each household and communicate to people that the BJP was going to bring Shiv Rajya (a government that follows the Shivaji's principles of governance).

The BJP has also taken over Sena's popular slogan Jai Bhawani - Jai Shivaji, which its candidates will use during rallies in the state. "BJP's election podiums will have Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue. We will also use saffron flags in rallies. The party has to attract Maratha votes to win the elections. The NCP-Congress government has approved reservation to Marathas and this decision can go against us. We want to strongly communicate to Marathas that our party will protect their interests and also give substantial share in power," said a senior BJP state leader.

"The image of Shivaji has been hijacked by politicians in Maharashtra since 1960s. First, it was chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan who used Shivaji's image for his political plan, then Shiv Sena hijacked the image and now BJP wants to build its political fortunes on the Maratha king's image," said political scientist Ashok Chousalkar.

The NCP and Congress have traditionally enjoyed the support of the Maratha community, which has remained loyal to the Maratha leadership including Yashwantrao Chavan, Vasantdada Patil, Shankarrao Chavan and Sharad Pawar.