NCP MLA Sangram Jagtap has sparked controversy after urging Hindu voters to buy goods exclusively from Hindu shopkeepers, drawing sharp criticism from opposition leaders. In response, the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party issued a show-cause notice to Jagtap regarding his remarks about restricting Diwali shopping to Hindu traders. Pawar, who has cultivated the party’s secular image and relies on a voter base spanning multiple castes and religious communities, condemned Jagtap’s statement as “unacceptable” and “completely wrong,” emphasizing that it contradicts the NCP’s ideology and would not be tolerated.
The Deputy Chief Minister added that a final decision would be made after receiving Jagtap’s response. Pawar’s swift action is being interpreted as an effort to reinforce the party’s secular credentials ahead of the upcoming local body elections. The 40-year-old MLA’s remarks last week triggered a backlash after he publicly appealed to Hindu voters to shop solely from Hindu traders, attracting criticism from opposition leaders including Supriya Sule. Despite the criticism, Jagtap defended his statement, claiming it was a response to similar remarks previously made by Muslim leaders.
Jagtap’s comments came shortly after his constituency witnessed communal tensions triggered by a protest over graffiti that read “I Love Muhammad,” which escalated into violent clashes, a blockade of the Ahilyanagar-Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar road, and the detention of thirty people. Observers suggest that the MLA’s remarks may have been a calculated political move aimed at consolidating the Hindu votebank in his area.
However, these statements carry the risk of undermining the party’s broader secular image in Maharashtra, which has been a distinguishing factor for the NCP compared to its alliance partners, the BJP and Shiv Sena. Ajit Pawar’s strategy of relying on a voter base inclusive of various castes and religious communities was decisive in securing support from minority groups in the last assembly elections. Consequently, the party leadership faces the challenge of balancing disciplinary action to uphold its secular stance while avoiding alienation of the Hindu community.
