Mumbai, Oct 27 (NationPress) In a strong address, Shiv Sena UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray accused the BJP of orchestrating electoral fraud by manipulating voter lists to include fictitious entries. He emphasized that while in a democracy the voters select the government, the government appears to be selecting its voters, determining who can participate in elections.

Speaking at the Nirdhar rally ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, he urged party members to remain vigilant and combat electoral roll fraud. “Stay vigilant, combat the electoral roll scams, probe into bogus voting, and let’s remember—victory in BMC elections is assured if we stand united, just like Balasaheb Thackeray taught us,” he stated.

He called on party workers to conduct thorough checks of the electoral rolls on a booth-to-booth basis. “This is not merely a scam; it’s an assault on Maharashtra’s voice. We will unveil every fictitious name and ensure that no fraudulent vote undermines our BMC,” he warned.

Thackeray instructed the party's ‘shakha’ and ‘upa shakha pramukhs’ to meticulously verify the voter lists, ensuring that each name corresponds to a resident of the listed address. “Start today. Determine how many names are authentic and how many are fraudulent. Ensure that there are actual voters’ images on the electoral roll,” he urged.

On election day, he emphasized the importance of having the voters’ list with a photo in the polling agent's possession. “If a fraudulent voter is detected, prevent them from casting their vote. Should the Election Commission turn a blind eye, do not allow any bogus voter to participate. The BJP are thieves,” he asserted.

Thackeray provided suggestions for vigilance, such as verifying voter IDs and promptly reporting any inconsistencies to the Election Commission.

He labeled the BJP as a “deceptive gang of self-styled patriots”, prioritizing power over the populace. “They speak of Hindutva, but their version is solely for their political gain. The real threat is to their positions, not the Hindus,” he declared.

He portrayed Shiv Sena UBT as the authentic protector of Marathi pride, contrasting it with the BJP's coercive methods, which included the previous controversy over the Hindi language policy.

Without directly naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Thackeray launched a fierce critique, alleging that two business interests are eyeing Mumbai, vowing to thwart their efforts to seize the city.

“Today, what Aditya Thackeray highlighted regarding the voter list irregularities must be examined closely. This initiative needs to spread across Maharashtra, starting with Mumbai, because two particular businessmen have their sights set on the city. I know you can guess who they are, but I won’t mention them,” he asserted.

He humorously remarked on a recent visit to Mumbai, juxtaposing the inauguration of a BJP office and a news story about an anaconda at Jijamata Park. “This snake wants to engulf Mumbai. Do you want it to swallow Mumbai? Let’s see how that unfolds,” he concluded.