Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday expressed concern over the fairness of the ongoing Maharashtra municipal corporation elections, saying he does not consider it a legitimate election if power is gained through fraud.
Let us tell you that Shiv Sena (UBT) is contesting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in alliance with Raj Thackeray led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in the ongoing BMC elections in Mumbai, Thackeray alleged that a voting machine called “Padu” was being used, about which the State Election Commission had not given any prior information to the political parties. He demanded clarification from the Election Commission in this matter.
The Printing Auxiliary Display Unit (PADU) acts as a backup in case of any emergency or technical error in connecting the voting unit to the control unit.
Raj Thackeray said, “After that came the issue of VVPAT, about which it was said that it would not be used. Then a machine named ‘Padu’ was brought. Actually there is no opposition or opposition leader. The government decides how elections are to be conducted. We will not let this happen. Bringing the machine is a different thing, but the Election Commission has not given complete information about this machine to any political party.”
He further said, “Despite repeated complaints and requests, no information has been given about this machine. The Election Commission should give a clarification on this. When someone comes to power by conducting fraudulent elections like this, we do not call it an election.”
The MNS chief also expressed concern over irregularities during the voting and cited cases requiring re-polling. He alleged that earlier a different ink was used to mark the ballot papers, but now a new pen has been used and there have been complaints that its ink gets erased when sanitizer is applied.
Raj Thackeray said, “Even after submitting written objections, nothing has been done. The ink that was used till now is now being used in place of new ink and complaints are being received about that ink. The ink gets erased when sanitizer is applied. Now all that happens is that the ink is applied, then you come out, erase the ink and then go inside and vote again. I want to inform all of you about the operation of this system. When we When all this was started, our aim was to win the elections in some way or the other. The government and the administration are making every possible effort in this matter. The issue of re-polling was also raised.
He urged voters, especially Matoshree soldiers and women supporters, to remain alert during the elections. Thackeray also criticized the new election campaign rules, saying that these rules show how the government can manipulate the election process to remain in power.
Thackeray said, “I appeal to the public, Shiv Sena workers and Matoshree Sena workers to be alert about all these things. A person has been caught voting twice.”
Voting took place today for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra as a high-profile election campaign ended, setting the stage for decisive political contests in major urban centers including Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Barring Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, where Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has opted for an alliance with Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP), the Mahayuti party is largely contesting the local body elections together.
Both factions of NCP in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have united under a joint manifesto.
The main political battle is focused on Mumbai and Pune, where the BJP-led Mahayuti Party will face a united Thackeray camp as just ahead of the municipal elections, Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray have joined hands on the issue of “Bhoomiputra” in a crucial battle for control of the BMC, the country’s richest civic body.
The last BMC elections were held in 2017. In a significant political realignment in Pune, both factions of the NCP have come together just ahead of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections following the split in 2023.
Ajit Pawar again joined hands with Sharad Pawar and contested against NDA ally BJP in Pune, while Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena opted to contest alone in the PMC after failing to settle an acceptable seat-sharing formula with the BJP.
According to the State Election Commission (SEC), a total of 3.48 crore voters are eligible to vote to decide the fate of 15,908 candidates contesting 2,869 seats in 893 wards of 29 municipal corporations. A total of 39092 polling stations have been set up across the state.
Voting begins at 7.30 am on January 15 and will be completed by 5.30 pm. Counting of votes will start from Friday, January 16.
