Maharashtra BJP minister Nitesh Rane said actor Salman Khan is more Hindu than Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray [1].

The statement highlights the ongoing political friction in Maharashtra, where party leaders often use public figures to challenge the ideological credentials of their rivals.

Rane said the comments on Tuesday during a discussion regarding the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader [1]. He pointed to Khan's presence at a recent event in Mumbai hosted by the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as evidence of the actor's commitment [1].

By contrasting a cinema star with a veteran political leader, Rane sought to question Thackeray's standing within the Hindu fold. The RSS is the ideological parent organization of the BJP, and attendance at its events is often viewed as a sign of alignment with its nationalist goals [1].

Khan has not issued a public response to the minister's remarks. The interaction underscores the use of celebrity visibility to frame political narratives in the region, a common tactic in the state's volatile electoral landscape [1].

Thackeray and his party have faced consistent criticism from the BJP regarding their ideological purity, and their relationship with the RSS. Rane's use of Khan's attendance serves as a rhetorical tool to suggest that even an outsider has shown more deference to the organization than the Shiv Sena chief [1].

“Salman Khan is more Hindu than Uddhav Thackeray”

This incident reflects the strategic use of 'Hindu credentials' as a political weapon in Maharashtra. By praising a high-profile actor like Salman Khan to diminish a political opponent, the BJP is attempting to isolate Uddhav Thackeray from the core ideological base of the RSS, framing him as insufficient in his commitment to the cause.