Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday criticized the opposition for questioning the credibility of electronic voting machines (EVMs) following the recent assembly elections. Addressing the controversy, Shinde urged opposition leaders to accept the people’s mandate and stop “misleading voters.”
“In the Lok Sabha elections, the Mahayuti alliance secured 43.55% of votes, while the MVA polled 43.71%. Despite this, the opposition won 31 seats, and Mahayuti got 17. Should we now claim there was an EVM scam?” Shinde remarked, highlighting the opposition’s inconsistency in accepting election outcomes.
Criticism of Opposition Protests
Shinde called on the opposition to acknowledge their “decisive defeat” and support the new government’s developmental initiatives. “People don’t vote for those who sit at home. Stop crying and accept the mandate given for our developmental work,” he asserted.
The deputy chief minister also questioned the opposition’s stance on EVMs, pointing to their participation in Sunday’s oath-taking ceremony after boycotting it earlier. “Does this mean they have abandoned the issue?” he asked.
Defending EVMs Amid Allegations
Shinde dismissed the opposition’s demand for a return to the ballot paper system, arguing that their stance is inconsistent. “When you win, there’s no EVM scam, but when you lose, the machines become faulty. This approach is not right,” he said, emphasizing that creating confusion about a democratically elected government undermines democracy.
Response to Sharad Pawar
Shinde’s remarks follow NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar’s observation that the comparison between votes polled and seats won in the Maharashtra assembly election was “surprising.” Responding to Pawar, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused him of misleading the public and urged the opposition to introspect and accept defeat gracefully.
The allegations surrounding EVMs remain a contentious issue, with opposition parties, including the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), demanding reforms in the electoral process. However, Shinde reiterated that the government’s victory reflects the people’s confidence in the Mahayuti alliance’s work.
