Allegations of Vote Theft Emerge in Maharashtra Political Landscape

Sanjay Raut, the leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), has accused the BJP-led government in Maharashtra of assuming power through what he described as “vote theft.” Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Raut emphasized that this issue has persisted for eight months and is now being discussed on both national and international platforms.

“The matter of vote theft has been raised by prominent figures including Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and the Congress party,” Raut stated. He questioned, “Where did our votes go?” and noted that this concern had been echoed by Raj Thackeray. Raut further claimed that Rahul Gandhi has also brought this issue to a broader audience, highlighting its significance beyond Maharashtra’s borders.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi intensified his criticism of the Election Commission of India (ECI) during a press conference in Araria, Bihar. He characterized the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar as an “institutionalized way” of vote theft.

Gandhi asserted, “In Bihar, SIR is an institutionalized way for vote theft. Lakhs of voters’ names were deleted.” He pointed out that while the Opposition has raised concerns, the BJP has remained silent, suggesting a partnership between the Election Commission and the ruling party.

“People are joining our ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ organically, which shows that millions in Bihar recognize the reality of vote theft,” he added. Gandhi stressed the importance of ensuring that the ECI provides accurate voter lists, something he claimed was not done in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Karnataka.

The Congress leader vowed that the Opposition would not permit the BJP and the Election Commission to manipulate elections in Bihar. “Our pressure is to change the Election Commission’s behavior. We will not allow this to happen in Bihar,” he said. He further accused the BJP of stealing elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, asserting that similar situations had occurred in Karnataka.

As these allegations gain traction, the political discourse around electoral integrity in India intensifies. The claims by both Raut and Gandhi raise critical questions about the electoral processes in various states, and whether the integrity of elections can be maintained amidst such serious accusations. The issue is expected to influence upcoming political engagements as both parties seek to galvanize public opinion ahead of future elections.