Activist Baba Adhav on a hunger strike against Maharashtra electoral gimmicks

The 95-year-old crusader of human rights, social activist Baba Adhav has called an ‘atmaklesh’ (self torment) hunger strike in Pune, against the alleged use of money in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, that gave a massive landslide victory to the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti Alliance in Maharashtra and BJP, its highest ever number of seats in Maharashtra.

“I have not demanded anything from the government. This is what I feel. I have seen and participated in elections since 1952. But this time, the picture is very dire. Money was used blatantly this time as part of the election campaign. Even on the government level, they [Mahayuti] used ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme to give government money to the people. If the CM wanted to give ‘Bhaubeej’ to his sisters, why did he use government funds? He should have paid for it from his own pockets,” Adhav said.

Nitin Pawar, Convener of the Rashtriya Ekatmata Samiti, has also begun the hunger strike with Adhav. “On November 28, that is Mahatma Phule Smruti Din, we began this three-day hunger strike for truth. We called the strike on November 26, which is Constitution day. In the last 10-11 years, since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power, the Constitutional values have suffered in the country. What happened in Maharashtra Assembly Elections was its epitome,” Pawar said.

The Mahayuti Government launched the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme in August 2024 for women aged between 21 and 65 years, from families with an annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh. Launched soon after the Mahayuti alliance managed to win less than expected number of seats in the Lok Sabha elections, the scheme has been said to be part of its pre-election campaign by the government to lure women voters.

Adhav said that even though people from the marginalised communities were initially happy to receive the money, they did realise that it was just a tactic. “Even people from [former] deputy CM Devendra Fadanvis’ constituency said this to me, that this is as if they ‘Devichach ghetla ani Devilach dila…’ (took from the Gods and gave it back to the Gods),” he shared.

“It was as if the government was bribing the people using government funds. They were organising grand events, where the CM asked people if they had received the money. They asked people not to forget it. Apart from this, huge amounts of money, gathered through moral as well as immoral means, was poured into this election by all political parties,” Pawar said.

“They gave that money to the people on behalf of the government and then asked for votes in return. And it benefited them. The fear is that this will become a norm,” Adhav added, saying that this is against the Constitution.

“The right to vote is an honour that democracy has given us. If it is disrespected, I cannot stand by and watch as a responsible citizen,” he added.

Adhav will continue to be on hunger strike till Saturday, November 30.

He also demanded that strict action be taken against Gautam Adani, with regard to the arrest warrant issued against him in the US.

The Maharashtra Assembly election results have also restarted the discussion around the sanctity of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

“We have seen unexpectedly shocking results before. But they could be explained. But this time, the way Shinde became CM, the way MLAs were taken away, it is clear that the BJP does not care about anything. Any sense of reason has disappeared,” Adhav said.

When asked why more youngsters were not responding to progressive political calls, Adhav was surprisingly optimistic. “There were more young participants here earlier. More youth should come together and say that we will not let anyone harm the Constitution. We need to guide the youngsters,” he said.

Adhav concluded saying that he will not stop fighting. “I am on hunger strike now. People ask me, what’s next?" If needed, I will do Satyagraha, I will appeal to the people. But I will not rest,” he said.