<p>With only four days left for voting in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, two terms have emerged at the center of political debate: ‘vote jihad’ and ‘dharma yudh’ (religious war). These terms were introduced into Maharashtra’s political lexicon by the state’s current Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis. Fadnavis accused certain groups of inciting Muslim voters to cast their ballots unanimously against the BJP, a move he described as “vote jihad.” In response, Fadnavis called for a “dharma yudh,” or a religious war, to counteract this influence. The central issue now is the foundation of Fadnavis’s accusations. Is there genuine evidence that efforts are being made to draw a religious line in the sand for electoral votes? Fadnavis’s statement suggests that there is a deliberate attempt to create a religious divide among voters, with some trying to rally Muslim voters against the BJP, framing it as a religious struggle. The question arises whether such a tactic is being used to polarize voters along religious lines, with parties either encouraging or resisting these divides for electoral gain. This has led to intense discussions about the role of religion in the electoral process, and whether the politics of division will dominate the upcoming elections. As the voting day approaches, the implications of these statements and their potential to influence voter behavior remain a key concern in the political landscape of Maharashtra.</p>