Maharashtra Elections 2024: Allegations of Voter List Manipulation
The opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), has accused the ruling coalition of misusing government resources to remove legitimate voters from the electoral rolls ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2024. Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole claimed that the BJP is altering voter lists despite assurances from the Election Commission for fair elections.
Key Figures and Allegations
MVA, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena-UBT, and NCP-SP, is contesting against the ruling Mahayuti alliance of BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction). Patole alleged that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis are involved in these actions, using Form Number 7 to delete names from the voter list. He stated that the BJP is fearful of losing the elections.
Calls for Fair Elections
Shiv Sena UBT leader Anil Desai urged voters to participate fairly and mentioned that MVA plans to meet the chief electoral officer to stop online name deletions. A delegation has already met with the state’s Chief Electoral Officer, S Chockalingam.
Seat-Sharing Discussions
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut announced plans to discuss seat-sharing with Rahul Gandhi, noting pending decisions on several seats. He emphasized unity within the MVA despite challenges and criticized the Election Commission for bias.
Upcoming Elections
The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with vote counting on November 23. In the previous elections, MVA won 154 out of 288 seats, and in the recent Lok Sabha elections, they secured 30 out of 48 seats.
Doubts Revealed
Maharashtra Elections 2024 -: These are elections to choose leaders for the Maharashtra state government, which will happen in 2024. People in Maharashtra will vote to elect members of the legislative assembly.
Nana Patole -: Nana Patole is a politician in India and the president of the Congress party in Maharashtra. He is involved in the political activities and decisions of the Congress party in the state.
MVA -: MVA stands for Maha Vikas Aghadi, which is a political alliance in Maharashtra. It includes parties like the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, which is a major political party in India. It is currently the ruling party in the central government and in several states, including Maharashtra.
Voter List Manipulation -: This means changing or tampering with the list of people who are allowed to vote. It can involve adding fake names or removing real voters to influence election results.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde -: Eknath Shinde is the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He is a leader in the state government and is responsible for making important decisions for Maharashtra.
Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis -: Devendra Fadnavis is the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He assists the Chief Minister and plays a key role in the state’s administration.
Chief Electoral Officer -: The Chief Electoral Officer is an official responsible for overseeing elections in a state. They ensure that elections are conducted fairly and according to the rules.
Shiv Sena (UBT) -: Shiv Sena (UBT) is a faction of the Shiv Sena party, led by Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray. It is part of the MVA alliance in Maharashtra.
Sanjay Raut -: Sanjay Raut is a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Shiv Sena (UBT) party. He is involved in political discussions and decisions, especially related to elections.
Rahul Gandhi -: Rahul Gandhi is a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress party. He is involved in national and state-level politics in India.
Seat-sharing -: Seat-sharing is an agreement between political parties on how many seats each party will contest in an election. It helps them avoid competing against each other in the same areas.
