Harshvardhan Sapkal claims recent unrest in several states reflects a planned strategy to deepen religious divisions before delimitation and the 2029 elections
MUMBAI — Levelling serious allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Harshvardhan Sapkal, president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, has claimed that the ruling party was attempting to create communal tension across the country on the pattern of the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Sapkal alleged that recent incidents of unrest in states including West Bengal and Assam were part of a larger political strategy aimed at polarisation before the 2029 general elections.
He claimed that after the results of the assembly elections in five states, organised efforts to spread religious hatred had intensified in different parts of the country.
“Plans are being made to create riots across India. We are also hearing reports about training activities being conducted for this purpose,” Sapkal alleged during the media interaction.
The Congress leader further claimed that the political strategy was linked to future electoral calculations and the delimitation process expected after the next census exercise.
“Just as riots were seen in Gujarat in 2002, a similar atmosphere is being created now in different parts of the country,” he said.
Sapkal alleged that the BJP used Hindu-Muslim polarisation during assembly elections in states such as West Bengal and Assam and suggested that preparations for future constituency delimitation were already underway.
He also claimed that decisions regarding members of the future delimitation committee had been informally discussed, though he did not provide evidence to support the allegation.
The BJP has not issued any official response so far to Sapkal’s statements.
Speaking on political developments in Tamil Nadu, Sapkal defended the Congress party’s decision to support the party led by actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay after consultations with local leaders and party in-charges.
He said there had already been demands at the local level for an alliance with Vijay’s party and argued that an earlier understanding could have benefited Congress electorally.
Sapkal said, “Congress remains committed to alliances with parties that are fighting to protect democracy and the Constitution,” he said.
During the press conference, Sapkal also targeted the BJP over alleged corruption in the construction of public toilets under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
In a sarcastic remark, he said, “Now even public toilets are becoming too small for the scale of corruption.”
He referred to earlier allegations linked to public sanitation projects and accused the ruling party of favouring select individuals while ignoring ordinary workers.
Political observers said the remarks are likely to increase political confrontation in Maharashtra and other states ahead of future elections.
A Mumbai-based analyst said, “Statements involving communal tension and electoral strategy are highly sensitive. Such allegations deepen political divisions and are likely to trigger sharp responses from rival parties.”
The Congress leader’s comments come at a time when debates around communal harmony, electoral politics and delimitation are becoming increasingly visible in national political discussions.
