Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Saturday alleged discrepancies in votes of Electronic Voting Machines in Maharashtra Assembly polls. However, he said he did not have any proof in this regard to substantiate his claims. Following this, Shiv Sena leader hit back at Pawar for just "blaming something" after the Maharashtra loss, asking him why he did not take any action on this during the polls.
"Why didn't he (Sharad Pawar) complain about it during the elections? If the power and money were misused during the elections, the candidates of Maha Vikas Aghadi should have complained to the election officers, police, district administration...He is just blaming something for their defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections...He (Sharad Pawar) can still file a complaint with the police, election commission," he said.
This comes after Congress leader's 'dog' remark on the Election Commission of India triggered a massive row in the state, with BJP leaders criticising the opposition alliance for indulging in dirty politics. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya told ANI that the Maharashtra BJP has filed a complaint against Congress leader Ashok A Jagtap for comparing the EC to a dog.
Earlier today, Sharad Pawar had claimed that the people are disappointed by the elections held in the country, alleging democracy was not being followed.
"This has happened for the first time, the elections held in the country have made people very restless, there is disappointment among the people...Every day at 11:00 am, the opposition leaders raise questions in the Parliament. They put forward their point but their demands are not being accepted in the Parliament and this clearly means that Parliamentary democracy is not being followed properly. If it continues like this, then it is not right and for this, we will have to go among the people and make them aware,"
Alleging difference in the EVMS' votes, the NCP (SP) chief said: "There is some difference in the votes of EVMs but at the moment I do not have any proof in this regard. Some people have demanded recounting. Whatever is possible in this matter will be done. Some people have applied for recounting. Let's see what happens in that but I do not have much hope from this."
The MVA, especially the Congress, has been slamming the election results in Maharashtra, calling them "unexpected", "unnatural", and "unbelievable".
The Congress on Friday slammed the poll body claiming that the "integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised". The party also vowed to take up the concern as a "national movement".
Meanwhile, there is still no announcement by the Mahayuti on the next Maharashtra Chief Minister's name, with Eknath Shinde leaving Mumbai for his native village in Satara and a key Mumbai meet standing cancelled.
Amid the speculation, Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai said: "I got the information that the legislative meeting of BJP will be held on Monday (2nd Dec) and they will choose the legislative leader of their party. Shiv Sena and NCP have already chosen Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar as the leaders of their parties respectively...After the meeting, the three leaders will decide the formula for state cabinet and portfolios".
The MVA, comprising of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP) faced a crushing defeat in the Maharashtra polls after the Mahayuti emerged victorious with BJP winning 132 seats alone, and its allies Shiv Sena and NCP winning 57 and 41 seats, respectively.