Maharashtra elections weren’t just a political battle; they were a clash of ideologies. The efficient groundwork of RSS was central to the BJP and its allies’ resounding win’s Swayamsewaks. Yet, this time, an ancient yet timeless force helped the RSS and BJP – the Kirtankars.
Kirtankars are spiritual storytellers, who worked once under Shivaji Maharaj. They became the driving force behind an electoral mandate that has left political analysts stunned. Their history, intertwined with RSS’ hard work, became a cornerstone for BJP’s campaign. The election saw the Kirtankars not just as narrators but as kingmakers, ensuring that the state rejected appeasement politics and embraced a vision rooted in unity and pride. Let’s talk!
Shivaji Maharaj and the Kirtankars: Guardians of Unity
Shivaji Maharaj, the great Hindu King, understood the power of narrative. During his reign in the 17th century, the Maratha Empire was constantly threatened by external Islamic invaders and internal divisions. The great king took the help of Varkari Samaj and other religious singers. Known as Kirtankars, the samuday used devotional songs and stories to awaken spiritual and cultural consciousness among the Hindus.
Shivaji Maharaj turned to Kirtankars and Prabodhankars – religious storytellers and orators – to instill a sense of unity and pride among his people.
They preached the importance of protecting dharma and the Maratha identity. In an era rife with caste divisions, Kirtankars emphasized unity under the Hindu fold, ensuring that people saw themselves as part of a larger cause. Hence, their spiritual songs weren’t just about religion; they were calls to action. These calls motivated communities to support Shivaji’s campaigns and resist Mughal and foreign oppression.
Shivaji Maharaj’s use of Kirtankars wasn’t a mere strategy; it was a movement.
It ensured that his vision of a unified, proud Maharashtra endured, creating a legacy that inspired generations.
Kirtankars in the 2024 Maharashtra Elections
More such Dharmic voices needed.
Dharmic preacher & kirtankar Prakash Maharaj Sathe of the Warkari Samaj asking people to vote for those who protect Hindu Dharma, not for the ones doing casteist politics.#MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024
Share max. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/rjDVZ9zRkn— BeingWoman🇮🇳 (@Lovepettyquotes) November 18, 2024
Fast forward to today, the RSS and the Kirtankars once again played a pivotal role in the Maharashtra elections. Reports state that over 4,000 Kirtankars from the Warkari Samaj took to the streets in rural Maharashtra.
Armed with the message of cultural unity and political clarity, the kirtankars became the BJP’s secret weapon.
Kirtankars reminded voters that caste pride only holds meaning when Hindu identity is preserved. Their message resonated across rural zones during the Maharashtra elections. In the ‘Gaon-Kheda’ of Maharashtra cultural and religious values remain deeply rooted. And the Kirtankars helped the BJP tap into these potential supporters.
Hindu Galvanization can do wonders & it is the need of the hour to keep them away from power. pic.twitter.com/ElVbm3i9Hf
— Deepak Prabhu (@ragiiing_bull) November 24, 2024
The Kirtankars were aghast at the MVA’s alignment with Maulana Sajjad Nomani. The 17 demands, that the Sharad Pawar NCP had accepted, echoed the sentiments of the partition-era mindset of the Muslim League. Thus, Kirtankars didn’t mince words as they told voters that the MVA’s acceptance of these demands was akin to signing a second partition document. Over three months, Kirtankars reached thousands of homes, narrating stories and singing songs. They highlighted the dangers of appeasement politics and the importance of preserving Maharashtra’s cultural identity.
MVA’s Missteps in Maharashtra Elections
The MVA’s willingness to accommodate Nomani’s demands cost them heavily. It changed the perception of a lot of liberal voters. Many saw the MVA bending over backward to appease radical elements, raising fears of a government beholden to divisive interests. By aligning with a figure like Nomani and others, who symbolize a politics of division, the MVA alienated the very communities they needed to win.
The Kirtankars seized the opportunity to showcase the stark contrast: a BJP-led alliance focused on the unity of Hindus versus an MVA bent on appeasement.
This narrative galvanized Hindu voters to come forth and make themselves heard. Thereby, leading to an unprecedented voter turnout of 65.02%. And these extra votes gave a decisive mandate to the BJP and its allies in the Mahayuti Aghadi!
Bhau Torsekar: The Journalist Who Saw It All Coming
Bhau Torsekar's "Exit Poll" for Maharashtra : 160 for #Mahayuti 🔥
Unmissable episode of "Nakki Kaay Challay" with Bhau & @Vinay1011 ji (watch the full episode on YT) pic.twitter.com/HmpLp5mQjb
— Sameer (@BesuraTaansane) November 17, 2024
Months before the elections, veteran journalist Bhau Torsekar had predicted the MVA’s downfall. Through his YouTube videos, interviews, and ground reports, he painted a clear picture of the brewing wave in favor of the BJP-led Mahayuti Aghadi.
Yes, ladki bahin was a factor but anything more than 160 is only because of the groundwork of kirtankar, vhp, sangh swymsevk.
DF acknowledged it by saying 'Kathakar-Kirtankar ani Rashtriy Staravr kam karnare sangthn'. Very few noticed— Sujit Kawale (@sujit_kawale) November 24, 2024
BhauTorsekar noted the BJP’s ground-level strategy was a multi-point attack on the MVA. The RSS’s organizational strength and the Kirtankars’ cultural influence pulled rural voters. And the Yogi+Modi combination moved the semi-urban and urban voters. The Ladki Bahin and Ladka Bhau Yojna ensured that the youth and women were part of the Mahayuti’s vote bank.
In his final assessment before polling, Bhau Torsekar boldly stated that the MVA would fail to cross triple digits. And his predictions came true.
Torsekar Ji repeatedly highlighted the MVA’s dangerous tilt toward appeasement, particularly the end of Shiv Sena UBT due to a lack of core voters. When Devendra Fadnavis thanked the Kirtankars and Warkaris at the BJP HQ, it was a vindication of Torsekar Ji’s analysis.
The Power of Kirtankars: From Past to Present
The 2024 Maharashtra elections proved that the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj remains alive. Just as Kirtankars once unified a fractured society under the Maratha flag, they now rallied a modern electorate under the banner of the BJP’s Mahayuti Aghadi. With RSS as its ground force, the BJP ensured that no stone was left unturned. Add to the mix the Kirtankars, with a message of Hindu unity and pride, and the Mahayuti had touched all bases to strike the right chord with the voters.
The MVA’s blunders, particularly their pandering to radical elements, only amplified the Kirtankars’ message. And the Maharashtra voter saw Mahayuti as their only safe choice. In the end, the Kirtankars and RSS weren’t just storytellers or swayamsewaks – they were kingmakers. They ensured that Maharashtra chose pride over appeasement and unity over division.
Maharashtra’s Kirtankars just wrote a new chapter in history that shows cultural roots and emotional narratives can still decide modern elections.