Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, accused the Maha Vikas Aghadi of pursuing a "vote jihad" by appealing to religious sentiments for electoral gain. Fadnavis urged a "dharma-yudh of votes" to counter this alleged tactic, citing the MVA's reported written assurances to the Ulema Council, including demands for Muslim reservations and the release of 2012 riot accused.