Maharashtra CM Race LIVE: Don't Have Proof Of EVM Vote Discrepancy, Says Sharad Pawar
Maharashtra Govt Formation Live: Please follow this space for all the breaking news and latest updates on formation of government in Maharashtra.
NCP-SP president Sharad Pawar has said that elections for the first time 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. This clearly means that Parliamentary democracy is not being followed properly," he said.
He further said: "There is some difference in the votes of EVMs, but at the moment I do not have any proof. 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..."
On Congress leader Bhai Jagtap's 'dog' remark for Election Commission, BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla says, "Insulting constitutional institution has become the identity of Congress. This is not a coincidence, it has become a habit of Congress... Now, they are doubting the Election Commission, when the polls in Jharkhand, J&K, Wayanad, Karnataka, and Telangana, the poll body is fine... In Haryana and Maharashtra, the EC becomes 'kutta' for them... they are the ones who insult the Constitution..."
According to sources in the Mahayuti, the hold up in government formation is because of the indecision over Eknath Shinde's role. The BJP offered Shinde the Deputy Chief Minister's post in the government, but he has not yet responded.
READ MORE: Why Mahayuti Is Not Being Able To Choose A Chief Minister In Maharashtra
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut took a dig at the BJP asking the party's compulsion due to which it has not been able to still choose a chief minister.
"It is shocking. What is the compulsion of BJP that despite having such a big majority, leaders like PM Modi and Amit Shah, whose orders are obeyed by everyone, are still not able to give a Chief Minister to Maharashtra?" Raut said.
Background
Maharashtra Govt Formation Live: Please follow this space for all the breaking news and latest updates on the formation of government in Maharashtra.
The suspense over who will get to sit in the chief minister's chair continues as the Mahayuti alliance is yet to reach a consensus on government formation in Maharashtra.
On Thursday, Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar met with Union Minister Amit Shah over the issue but the meeting did not result in any outcome. Moreover, Shinde reportedly demanded ministerial berths of key portfolios in the Maharashtra cabinet in the situation where he is not made the chief minister.
The next meeting of the Mahayuti alliance was scheduled to be held in Mumbai but the situation accelerated when Shinde called off the meeting and went to his native place in Satara.
Before leaving for Satara, Shinde held a meeting with Jitendra Awhad, an MLA from Mumbra and a prominent leader of the NCP's Sharad Pawar faction, further adding fuel to the fire.
Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant, however, dismissed speculation that caretaker Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was upset and hence left for his native village.
Samant said Shinde was unwell when he met Shah. Asked about the meeting between Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar that was supposed to take place in Mumbai, Samant said, "If the meeting does not take place physically, it can also be held through video conference." "He (Shinde) is not upset. Even in Delhi, he was down with a fever and cold. It will be wrong to say he has gone to Dare because he is upset," the Sena leader maintained.
"Anyone can face health issues, and if he has gone to a good place (for health reasons), there is no point in concluding that he is upset," Samant added.
He also hinted at a "big decision" from Shinde in the next 24 hours ending Saturday.
“Whenever Eknath Shinde thinks that he needs some time to think he goes to his native village...When he (Eknath Shinde) has to make a big decision he goes to his native village. By tomorrow evening he (Eknath Shinde) will take a very big decision...,” Shirsat said.
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