A dispute has surfaced between Maharashtra Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP regarding Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s slogan, “Batenge toh Katenge” (“If divided, we’ll be cut down”). Ajit Pawar publicly rejected the slogan, stating it conflicts with the inclusive approach of Maharashtra’s politics, while Fadnavis defended it, arguing it reflects unity and public sentiment.
Fadnavis suggested that Pawar’s association with secular ideologies and groups opposing Hindutva influences his stance on the slogan. Clarifying its intent, he stated, “Whenever this country divided—into castes, states, communities—we became slaves,” asserting that unity is essential for progress.
Pawar countered, emphasizing that the slogan contradicts the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” (“Together with all, development for all”) and proposed an alternative view: “Ek hain toh safe hain” (“If united, we are safe”).
Prominent leaders have expressed mixed reactions. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan criticized the slogan as inappropriate for elections, and BJP’s Pankaja Munde distanced herself, focusing instead on development-oriented politics.
As Maharashtra heads to its assembly elections on November 20, the debate underscores the complexities of the Mahayuti alliance, which comprises both Pawar’s NCP faction and Fadnavis’s BJP.
