The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) boycotted swearing in of the newly elected members of the Maharashtra assembly Saturday, the first day of a three-day special session, alleging that the Mahayuti coalition retained power by manipulating electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The MVA said it would soon launch a campaign against the use of EVMs in the election, from Markarwadi village in the Malshiras assembly constituency. This even as the opposition alliance in the state already seems to be coming apart with the Samajwadi Party talking about quitting it.
“If the Mahayuti really won by such a huge mandate, then the entire state should be excited, yet everyone here is questioning the result. The question in everyone’s mind is whether the mandate is from the people or derived from the EVMs and the Election Commission of India,” said Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) legislative party leader Aaditya Thackeray.
The Maharashtra opposition is highlighting the issue of the Markarwadi village, where some villagers disputed the votes captured in the EVM and wanted to hold a mock poll through the use of ballot papers. The EC had objected to the plan and police have filed cases against those who organised the poll.
“The Markarwadi mock poll was important as we wanted to show the difference between the polling in EVMs and the ballot boxes. All of those who are protesting (opposition MLAs) are those who have won yet we are disputing the results. We will be planning a long march (from Markarwadi),” said Thackeray.
State Congress chief Nana Patole said he has spoken to party leader Rahul Gandhi on taking out a march in Markarwadi seeking the use of ballot papers in elections.
While MVA MLAs have boycotted Saturday’s swearing in, they have indicated that they will take oath on Sunday.
SP MLAs Take Oath
Meanwhile there was division within the MVA opposition alliance on the issue with SP’s Abu Asim Azmi and Rais Shaikh deciding to swear in on Saturday. Azmi poked holes in MVA’s EVM manipulation theory, saying that the defeat of the coalition was due to no coordination among the allies.
