As Maharashtra’s assembly election race heats up, Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh took a dig at political parties relying on religious rhetoric. Campaigning in Latur for his brother, Congress leader Dhiraj Deshmukh, the actor urged parties to focus on development issues instead of claiming religious threats.

“Those who say their religion is in danger are actually worried about their party’s future. They’re praying to their religion to save themselves,” said the Housefull actor, whose late father Vilasrao Deshmukh was a former chief minister of Maharashtra. Addressing a crowd on Sunday night, Deshmukh added, “Let us worry about our religion. You focus on talking about development.”

Emphasising the importance of action over rhetoric, Deshmukh quoted Lord Krishna, saying, “Karma (work) is dharma (religion). Those who work sincerely are fulfilling their dharma. Those who don’t work are the ones who need religion.” His remarks come at a time when religious themes have become central to campaign messaging, sparking debates over their influence on voter priorities.

Dhiraj Deshmukh, the younger Deshmukh brother, is contesting the Latur (Rural) assembly seat, where he faces BJP candidate Ramesh Karad. Riteish noted Dhiraj’s victory margin of 1.21 lakh votes in the 2019 election, urging voters to support him again to ensure the opposition candidate’s defeat.

Riteish Deshmukh also touched on employment issues, pointing to high unemployment rates among educated youth and inadequate pricing for farmers’ produce. He called on the Maharashtra government to prioritize job creation and farmer welfare, underlining the economic challenges the state’s youth and agricultural sectors face.

Addressing the rally, Deshmukh appealed to the youth to recognize the significance of their vote, urging them to protect Maharashtra’s identity and support policies that uphold citizens’ rights.

Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024

Maharashtra’s assembly elections, set for November 20, will see fierce competition for 288 seats as major alliances Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) vie for control. With counting scheduled for November 23, both alliances have intensified their campaigns, bringing out prominent figures to rally support.

As the election date approaches, issues around development, employment, and agricultural welfare are shaping up to be key factors, with candidates like Dhiraj Deshmukh leaning on local concerns to resonate with voters.