Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar has raised concerns about discrepancies in the votes recorded through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the recent Maharashtra assembly elections. While expressing his doubts, he admitted that his party currently lacks concrete evidence to support these claims.
Sharad Pawar, addressing reporters, stated that discrepancies in the vote counts have been observed but added, "At the moment, I do not have any proof in this regard." Some individuals have called for recounting in specific constituencies, but Pawar remained skeptical about the outcome. "Whatever is possible in this matter will be done, but I do not have much hope from this," he remarked.
Pawar further claimed that these elections have left people restless and disheartened, marking a significant shift in the political atmosphere. He highlighted that opposition leaders have consistently raised concerns in Parliament without receiving any meaningful response, which, according to him, indicates a decline in parliamentary democracy.
"This has happened for the first time. People are restless, and there is disappointment. Parliamentary democracy is not being followed properly," he stated, emphasizing the need for political outreach to address public concerns.
The concerns over EVMs have been echoed by other opposition parties, particularly the Congress. On Friday, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) criticized the Election Commission for its alleged partisan conduct, arguing that the integrity of the electoral process is being undermined.
In a strongly worded statement, the CWC stated, "Free and fair elections are a constitutional mandate that is being called into serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission." The Congress also announced plans to launch a national movement to address these issues.
Despite these allegations, the Election Commission rejected the claims of irregularities but extended an invitation to a Congress delegation to discuss the matter on December 3.
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Maharashtra election results
The recently concluded Maharashtra elections delivered a resounding victory to the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which secured 233 out of 288 assembly seats. The BJP won 132 seats, while its allies—the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde and the NCP faction under Ajit Pawar—secured 57 and 41 seats, respectively.
In contrast, the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a major defeat. The Congress won only 16 seats, while Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 20 seats. Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction managed to win just 10 seats. This poor performance has left the opposition introspecting on its strategies and approach.
Sharad Pawar stressed the importance of connecting with the public to address these challenges. "If it continues like this, then it is not right, and we will have to go among the people and make them aware," he said.
As political tensions remain high, the opposition’s efforts to challenge the BJP’s dominance and restore faith in electoral integrity will likely shape the discourse in the coming months. Whether the opposition can unite and effectively mobilize public opinion remains to be seen.
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