Baba Adhav Ends Anti-EVM Hunger Strike After Political Leaders' Visit

Pune (Maharashtra), Nov 30 (NationPress) Renowned social activist Dr Babasaheb Pandurang Adhav (96), affectionately called Baba Adhav, concluded his three-day hunger strike opposing EVMs after being visited by a host of political leaders, including Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, among others, on Saturday evening.

The visibly fatigued Dr Baba Adhav, a physician and labor leader, welcomed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar, state President Jayant R. Patil, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, party MP Sanjay Raut, and later Ajit A. Pawar, who also visited the protest site.

At around 5 p.m., Dr Baba Adhav relented to the pleas of his supporters and accepted a glass of water from Thackeray, marking the end of his hunger strike amidst applause and cheers.

“There have been significant inconsistencies in the voter turnout data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI); it has kept changing, and the vote-counting process was reportedly manipulated to favor the outgoing MahaYuti. Such actions are an affront to democracy,” Dr Baba Adhav stated during a media interaction.

Emphasizing that citizens deserve transparency regarding where their votes are cast, the frail yet resolute nonagenarian highlighted how the MahaYuti government disbursed cash through the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme just prior to the elections, jeopardizing the state's fragile financial status, as Sharad Pawar, 83, nodded in agreement.

“The government aspires for a democracy that grants it a monopoly without any opposition parties. Thus, it is every citizen's duty to resist this and take a stand,” Dr Baba Adhav urged.

During the event, Thackeray remarked, “Not just the losers like us (Maha Vikas Aghadi), but even the winning (MahaYuti) leaders are visiting here.”

“No one, be it the winners or the losers, believes in the results of the state Assembly elections. We are astonished at our loss, while they are bewildered by their victory. The reason is evident. ‘Satyameve Jayate’ was suppressed, but now you (Dr Baba Adhav) have revived it, and we stand firmly with you,” Thackeray added.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief described this agitation as a spark that could ignite into a larger movement, praising Dr Baba Adhav for leading the protest at his advanced age and “motivating all of us” to persevere in the struggle.

“We have observed and heard how financial influence was mercilessly wielded during the elections… Everyone has seen the videos of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vinod Tawde (in Palghar, on November 19). We have witnessed the flood of schemes. However, what the MahaYuti did was to sedate all its projects to expedite its ‘power operation’,” Thackeray stated candidly.

He also called upon the senior leaders of the MVA parties, NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and Congress, to follow Dr Baba Adhav’s example and advance the fight against EVMs, even as the Election Commission of India (ECI) invited a Congress delegation to address its concerns (December 3) regarding the state election results.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief lamented the lack of information regarding elections under RTI, how citizens' rights are being disregarded, and while the EVM-VVPAT receipt is visible, counting of the same is prohibited, preventing the public and candidates from confirming whether their votes were accurately registered, leading to numerous uncertainties.

Taking jabs at the MahaYuti for the prolonged delay in government formation, Thackeray stated that after obtaining a substantial majority, “instead of heading to Raj Bhavan (for the oath), the caretaker Chief Minister has gone to his farmland,” questioning what had gone amiss.

“When the MVA government was on the verge of formation (in November 2019), President’s rule was imposed… Now, (2024), the legislative term has expired, so why is the same not being enacted now? No one will provide answers to these inquiries… There exists complete uncertainty regarding the new administration, including who could be the Chief Minister, ministers, portfolios, etc.,” Thackeray concluded.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: qnajmi@gmail.com)