The BJP’s strategy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership is aimed at positioning the party as the OBCs’ most reliable ally and advocate, with a focus on delivering substantial change and development
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the run-up to the Maharashtra assembly elections, has coined a new slogan, ‘Ek Hain to Safe Hain’ (If United, We Are Safe), which resonates strongly with the Other Backward Classes (OBC) — a demographic that comprises nearly 38 per cent of Maharashtra’s population.
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The slogan is part of a well-coordinated Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) campaign to mobilise support among OBC voters by presenting unity as the key to safeguarding their rights and influence in the state.
The slogan highlights the significance of solidarity within the OBC community at a time when political stakes are high, and BJP is intent on securing a substantial share of the vote bank to boost its chances in the upcoming elections. The BJP’s strategy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership is aimed at positioning the party as the OBCs’ most reliable ally and advocate, with a focus on delivering substantial change and development.
With OBC voters making up such a large segment of the state’s electorate, BJP is making concerted efforts to address the community’s needs and aspirations.
The ‘Ek Hain toh Safe Hain’ slogan is more than just a catchphrase. It conveys the message that unity under the BJP’s leadership will bring tangible benefits to OBC communities, from job security to social development and enhanced political representation.
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PM Modi, himself from the OBC background, has consistently emphasised the need to empower marginalised communities, positioning BJP as a party committed to the OBC cause. This message is strongly resonating with OBC leaders and voters in Maharashtra, who feel that the community’s welfare is best served under BJP governance.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP’s prominent OBC leaders have been promoting the slogan at rallies, emphasising that the party’s leadership will ensure that OBCs are not just represented but empowered.
In recent months, BJP has announced a series of policies and welfare schemes specifically targeting the OBC community. The party has introduced scholarships and support programmes for small and medium enterprises owned by OBCs, and initiatives to ensure greater representation of OBCs in educational institutions and government jobs. These initiatives aim to address economic and social issues faced by the OBC community, thus solidifying BJP’s image as a party dedicated to OBC welfare.
The slogan ties into these initiatives by reinforcing the idea that unity under BJP will secure a prosperous and stable future for OBC communities. This sentiment has been echoed by BJP leaders in Maharashtra, who are actively working to build alliances with influential OBC organisations, holding community meetings, and mobilising support at the grassroots level.
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BJP leaders have not hesitated to contrast their approach to OBC welfare with that of rival parties, particularly Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). BJP has criticised these parties, accusing them of using OBCs as a vote bank without providing genuine support for their development. In his speeches, PM Modi has asserted that OBC welfare has been a consistent priority for the BJP, whereas Congress and NCP have often treated OBC concerns as secondary.
While the immediate goal is success in the Maharashtra assembly elections, BJP’s emphasis on ‘Ek Hain toh Safe Hain’ is also a strategic move aimed at the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. With OBCs forming a crucial voting bloc, this slogan is intended to build a long-term support base. BJP is working to consolidate OBC votes not only to win the upcoming assembly elections but also to secure a stronger position in Maharashtra ahead of the national polls.
In the last Lok Sabha elections, BJP was trying hard to appease the Maratha vote bank in the state which hurt the OBC cause. Though Maratha activist Manoj Jarange has decided to not put up candidates in the elections, it is quite evident that he will campaign against BJP. Hence, BJP has drawn up this strategy to consolidate OBC voters as a counter-strategy to Maha Vikas Aghadi’s strategy of appeasing Maratha Votes.
With the new slogan, the prime minister, in his recently held rally in Akola, launched a sharp attack on Congress and its alliance partners, calling them anti-OBC, anti-Dalit and anti-SC/ST. PM Modi also criticised Congress by saying that the party “wants all other castes to fight amongst themselves and never intends to take any effort to uplift them”.
By presenting BJP as the most secure choice for OBCs and positioning unity as the key to the community’s prosperity, the ‘Ek Hain toh Safe Hain’ slogan seeks to create a lasting impact. BJP’s approach — mobilising prominent OBC leaders, launching targeted welfare programmes, and pushing for OBC representation — illustrates a calculated strategy aimed at translating this slogan into electoral success.
