Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai: Amid a landslide lead for the BJP-led Mahayuti in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut expressed disbelief at the projected results, alleging irregularities and calling for elections to be conducted using ballot papers.
The Rajya Sabha MP claimed that the results, which show the Mahayuti ahead in 220 of 288 seats as of 11:30 am, do not reflect the people’s verdict. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)—consisting of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction)—was trailing significantly, with leads in just 56 seats.
“Unbelievable Results”: Raut Questions Numbers
“There is definitely something amiss. These results cannot be the people’s verdict,” Raut stated. He accused the ruling coalition of dishonesty and questioned the extraordinary confidence of Eknath Shinde, who had reportedly claimed none of his MLAs would lose.
Raut also criticized the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), indirectly hinting at potential manipulation, and called for a return to ballot paper-based elections.
BJP Hits Back at Allegations
BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla dismissed Raut’s claims, terming them as “mental bankruptcy.” Poonawalla accused the opposition of blaming EVMs and institutions whenever results were not in their favor.
“Sanjay Raut and others from the opposition only have issues with EVMs when they lose elections. The INDIA bloc accepts results in places like Wayanad and Jharkhand, but cries foul in Maharashtra and Haryana,” he said.
Rising Tensions Amid Shifting Power
This election marks a crucial test for both factions of the Shiv Sena, with Aaditya Thackeray trailing behind Milind Deora of the Eknath Shinde-led faction in the Worli constituency. The Shinde faction’s strong showing in 54 seats is just two fewer than the undivided Sena’s tally in 2019.
Raut’s allegations come as the BJP emerges victorious in 125 seats, with the Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar factions contributing significantly to the Mahayuti’s success.
