Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray Yesterday (June 17th) said his party would challenge the Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha seat result in court, alleging that their candidate Amol Kirtikar’s victory was undermined by ‘misuse’ of official machinery.
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Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray announced on Monday that his party intends to challenge the outcome of the Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha seat in court, alleging that their candidate Amol Kirtikar’s victory was compromised by the “misuse” of official machinery.
During a press conference, Aaditya Thackeray remarked,
“There is an ongoing debate on the election process and EVMs. I have already said the Election Commission is an ‘entirely compromised’ commission.”
He further accused the BJP of electoral malpractice, stating,
“The BJP would not have won even 40 seats without misuse of power. However, 243 seats won by them are due to malpractices in the election process.”
He emphasized that the UBT Sena is gearing up to file a petition against the alleged misconduct and irregularities at the counting centre.
The statement from Aaditya Thackeray follows allegations from UBT Sena candidate Amol Kirtikar of electoral foul play in the Mumbai North-West constituency. Here, Shiv Sena candidate Ravindra Waikar narrowly won by a margin of just 48 votes.
Additionally, an FIR was filed against Waikar’s relative for using a mobile phone at a counting centre in Goregaon on June 4, a location where mobile phone usage is strictly prohibited according to the rules.
The political controversy has intensified with accusations of EVM hacking in the Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha constituency. Advocate Anil Parab, another leader from UBT Sena, has made several allegations, escalating the issue and casting serious doubts on the credibility of the Election Commission.
Objections Raised
- Distribution of Form 17c and 17c (Part 2): These forms, essential for determining the total tally of votes cast, were not distributed to everyone present at the counting centre. This resulted in a discrepancy of 650 votes between the total tallies of recorded votes.
- Proximity Issues: The distance between the assistant returning officer and UBT Sena’s counting agents was significantly greater than usual, preventing them from accurately observing the number of votes recorded.
- Delayed FIR: It took nearly 10 days for an FIR to be recorded following complaints by other independent candidates about a winning candidate’s relative carrying a mobile phone inside a restricted area.
- CCTV Footage: Election Commission officials denied access to CCTV footage, citing the need to seal it and obtain court permission.
In response to these allegations, Shinde Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam accused the opposition of fabricating a false narrative to mislead the public. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also questioned why the opposition did not raise concerns about EVMs in constituencies where their candidates emerged victorious.
The controversy has sparked intense debates between the ruling and opposition alliances, with both sides gearing up for a political showdown ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in the state. This face-off marks just the beginning of what promises to be a heated political climate.
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