Mumbai: Terming the Sena (UBT)-MNS morcha organised in Mumbai on Sunday a case of sour grapes,
BJP minister Ashish Shelar slammed the opposition for demanding that EVMs be replaced with ballot papers. He told reporters that the rally was a “kolhekui” (fox’s whine) and not a “garjana” (lion’s roar). He accused the opposition of double standards, saying it has no complaints when it wins elections but raises doubts each time BJP wins. “The opposition’s mindset is ‘my child is a saint, while everyone else’s is a brat’. This is nothing but ideological confusion. Instead of blaming EC for its electoral defeat, it needs to accept the people’s mandate.” On the demand for fresh assembly elections in Maharashtra, Shelar said the polls were held in 2024 and Kumar was appointed as CEC in Feb last year. “Since his appointment, six assembly elections have been held. The opposition won in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and BJP in Bihar, West Bengal and Assam. There is no basis to the allegation that EC is biased.”
Criticising the Thackerays for raising doubts about EVMs, Shelar said the BMC elections in 2007 and 2012 were held using EVMs and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena emerged victorious both times. He pointed out that in the 2009 assembly elections, Raj Thackeray’s
MNS won its highest number of seats through an EVM-based election.
Shelar said the special intensive revisions underway will make electoral rolls more accurate and safe.
