Pune: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is planning to hold over 25 public meetings - 'Sant Sammelans' - to consolidate Hindu votes for parties with Hindu ideology in the assembly elections in Maharashtra. The VHP aims to reunite Hindu voters through these gatherings to avoid the division of votes based on caste. The VHP is likely to hold massive gatherings in Nagpur, Akola, Latur, Dharashiv, Beed, Latur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Nashik and even the Konkan region. Several VHP members and spiritual leaders will participate in them.

The VHP was not so active in the state during the Lok Sabha elections. But now, it is. Govind Shende, VHP general secretary for Maharashtra and Goa, said, “The idea behind holding such meetings is to unite Hindu voters and improve the voting percentage in the state. We will not promote any particular party through our public meetings, but we will appeal to Hindu voters not to get divided so that the other side can benefit.”

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange had launched a campaign against Mahayuti candidates during the Lok Sabha elections. The alliance had to face the heat of his agitations, especially in Marathwada, where senior BJP members like Rao Saheb Danve and Pankaja Munde faced defeat.

According to BJP members, the party is now working hard to avoid division of votes during the assembly elections. “Our party, along with alliance partners, does not want to get involved in the Maratha-OBC conflict. We want to reunite our voters who have been voting against the Congress and NCP in the past. If we succeed in reuniting that voter base and if they vote in large numbers, the BJP will definitely gain an edge in the assembly elections,” said a senior BJP member.

VHP's Western Maharashtra functionary Shirish More told TOI, "While touring parts of Marathwada, we realized that divisions in society in the name of caste have increased. Hence, we endeavor to unite people again under one umbrella."