In a significant political escalation ahead of the Maharashtra elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India against Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Mamta Chavan. The allegation centers on Chavan’s alleged concealment of substantial property assets in her election affidavit, raising serious questions about transparency in electoral disclosures.
AAP leaders claim that during their scrutiny of nomination papers, they uncovered discrepancies in Chavan’s declared assets. Specifically, they point to multiple immovable properties in prime Mumbai locations that appear to have been omitted from her filings. ‘This is a blatant violation of electoral norms,’ stated AAP spokesperson, emphasizing the party’s commitment to clean politics.
The complaint, submitted on Monday, demands an immediate investigation and potential disqualification of the candidate. It includes supporting documents such as property registry records and comparative affidavits from previous elections. Election Commission sources indicate that such complaints are being fast-tracked given the proximity to polling dates.
This development adds fuel to the already heated rivalry between AAP and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction. AAP, aiming to make inroads in Maharashtra, has positioned itself as the anti-corruption crusader. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, vowing to respond robustly.
As the EC deliberates, political analysts predict this could set a precedent for stricter scrutiny of candidate disclosures across parties. With Maharashtra’s assembly polls just weeks away, every such controversy could sway voter sentiment in this battleground state.
