A political controversy has erupted in Mumbai ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections as BJP leader Amit Malviya shared a video on social media showing a poster of Congress candidate Arif Naseem Khan placed over an image of Lord Ganesha. Malviya criticized the Congress, calling it "the new Muslim League" and accusing it of disrespecting the Hindu community in an attempt to appeal to Muslim voters.
He described the incident as “Vote Jihad” and highlighted the cultural importance of Lord Ganesha, especially in Maharashtra, where Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated widely. The issue has intensified the already charged atmosphere in Maharashtra, where all 288 assembly constituencies are set to vote on November 23. With high stakes for both the BJP and Congress, the controversy has added fuel to the ongoing campaign narratives as each party seeks to secure a majority in one of India's most populous and politically significant states.