Shiv Sena (UBT) Accuses BJP of Acknowledging Voter Fraud in Maharashtra

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has responded to remarks made by Ashish Shelar, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), by accusing the ruling party of admitting to the existence of fraudulent voters in Maharashtra. Shelar’s comments highlighted the issue of duplicate names appearing on voter lists across different constituencies, which the Shiv Sena (UBT) claims underscores the BJP’s own failures.

At a press conference earlier this week, Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), dismissed the BJP’s accusations of “appeasement politics” regarding alleged irregularities in the electoral roll. Thackeray insisted that neither his party nor other opposition groups had identified any bogus voters based on religion. He emphasized that local body elections in Maharashtra should proceed only after thorough cleaning of the voter lists.

The exchange of allegations escalated after Shelar accused Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), of attempting to exert pressure on government officials ahead of the local polls. Shelar claimed the opposition was fabricating a “false narrative” to undermine the electoral process.

In response to Raj Thackeray’s comments about voters from Kalyan Rural, Murbad, and Bhiwandi allegedly voting in Mumbai’s Malabar Hill, Shelar characterized these actions as “the height of appeasement.” He questioned why only Marathi voters appeared to be targeted for alleged duplication, calling for a more comprehensive examination of the issue.

Highlighting specific cases, Shelar pointed to Imran Kadar Bagwan and Tabassum Abdul Mulani from the Karjat–Jamkhed constituency, represented by Rohit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). According to Shelar, these individuals also had duplicate entries in the voter rolls. He challenged Raj Thackeray to explain why he did not address these instances but focused on other specific cases.

Asserting that the Thackeray cousins should support the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision drive, Shelar criticized them for ignoring multiple entries involving minorities while only discussing issues related to Hindus, Dalits, and Marathis. He alleged that the opposition was attempting to manipulate government staff to influence the upcoming elections.

In a separate press conference, Uddhav Thackeray accused the Election Commission (EC) and the Union government of being “afraid of Gen Z,” noting that those turning 18 after July 1 would be denied the right to vote according to the current eligibility cut-off set by the EC.

“The Election Commission must rectify duplicate and bogus entries in the electoral roll,” Thackeray stated. “We have not mentioned religion at all. We are not opposing elections, but they must only be held after the rolls are corrected.”

Thackeray also criticized Ashish Shelar for his remarks about Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, calling him “Maharashtra’s Pappu” for failing to recognize irregularities in the voter registration process. He hinted at potential divisions within the BJP, suggesting that Shelar’s comments had unintended consequences.

“If the BJP agrees there are issues with the electoral roll, they should join us in petitioning the Election Commission,” Thackeray said, indicating a willingness to pursue legal action for corrections.

In a social media post, Aaditya Thackeray echoed his father’s sentiments, stating that the BJP’s acknowledgment of “double voting” amounted to a self-admission of fraudulent voters. He criticized the BJP for engaging in Hindu-Muslim politics and lacking tangible achievements after 11 years in power. He demanded the Election Commission “come clean” regarding the situation.

Uddhav Thackeray also expressed concerns about the EC’s Saksham app and server, warning that technical glitches could lead to genuine voters being wrongfully removed. He encouraged citizens to report any irregularities they encounter.

The Supreme Court has mandated that the Maharashtra State Election Commission conduct local body elections by January 31, 2026. Recently, the Maha Vikas Aghadi and MNS organized a protest march against alleged irregularities in the voter lists, accusing the Election Commission of favoring the BJP through questionable practices such as wrongful deletions and suspicious additions.