The political landscape in Maharashtra is currently experiencing a period of turbulence, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accusing election authorities of vote theft. Simultaneously, key figures from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are making serious allegations. Sharad Pawar, representing the NCP (Sharad Pawar), has alleged that before the November 2024 assembly elections, two individuals approached the MVA, claiming they could help secure 160 seats for the alliance.
Subsequently, Shiv Sena (UBT) has also voiced similar concerns. On Sunday, Shiv Sena alleged that those same individuals offered to ensure the party’s success in 60-65 crucial seats through Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) manipulation.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) leader Raut revealed on Sunday, “I was at the meeting where Uddhav Thackeray, adhering to his belief in democracy, rejected their proposal.” Both NCP (Sharad Pawar) and Shiv Sena (UBT) are essential components of the MVA coalition, alongside the Congress and other minor parties. This alliance achieved significant results in the June 2024 Lok Sabha elections, winning 30 out of Maharashtra’s 48 seats. However, the party faced electoral setbacks in the assembly elections held six months later, securing only 50 out of 288 seats.
Sharad Pawar disclosed on Saturday that before the assembly elections, two individuals approached him with an offer to ensure the MVA’s victory in 160 out of 288 seats through ‘EVM management.’ He stated, “The MVA rejected the proposal because we aimed to operate fairly.” He withheld the names of the individuals and their organizational affiliations. On Sunday, Raut indicated that Thackeray rejected the same individuals’ offer because he had full confidence in the MVA’s triumph, considering the prevailing political atmosphere in the state.
A Shiv Sena (UBT) MP added, “We performed well in the Lok Sabha elections and had hoped for comparable outcomes in the state elections.” When Thackeray and other Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders declined the offer to secure 60-65 seats through ‘EVM management,’ the two individuals informed them that the ruling Mahayuti alliance had planned to manipulate EVMs and voter lists, thereby guaranteeing the MVA’s defeat in the elections.
In reaction to Sharad Pawar’s claims, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that these allegations seemed to originate from a meeting with Rahul Gandhi.