Nagpur, Jan 6 (NationPress) The President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, Harshwardhan Sapkal, declared on Tuesday that the party is poised to deliver a significant lesson to the authoritarian and coercive Mahayuti during the upcoming elections for the 29 municipal corporations.

“The Congress party has garnered a robust mandate in the state's 288 municipal council elections, resulting in the election of 41 municipal presidents and 1,006 corporators. The party has also secured the second position in nearly 2,000 corporator seats. This momentum from the municipal council elections will undoubtedly resonate in the forthcoming municipal corporation polls,” he remarked.

He urged the populace to stand against the anti-democratic and authoritarian BJP-led Mahayuti.

During a press conference in Nagpur, Sapkal emphasized the responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure elections are conducted in a fair and transparent manner, yet he suggested that the Commission has lost its credibility based on its recent actions.

“The Congress has raised concerns about electoral malpractices; ultimately, the authorities conceded that there were issues with the electoral rolls, yet no corrective actions seem to have been implemented. The functioning of the Election Commission suggests it is operating under the influence of the ruling party.

“There are issues with voter lists, continuous delays in the voting process, obstacles for Opposition candidates during nomination filings, and a free rein provided to the ruling party,” he alleged.

He noted, “Campaigning has been allowed until 10 PM — effectively facilitating the distribution of money while neglecting polling booths. The Election Commission appears disinterested in making improvements. The Election Commission, the administrative body, and the ruling party have trampled upon all democratic norms, reducing the electoral process to a mere spectacle.”

“In both municipal and municipal corporation elections, the BJP and its affiliates have employed every tactic — coercion, financial inducements, intimidation, and manipulation. They enjoy the backing of not only the police, ministers, and their aides but also the Election Commission,” Sapkal stated.

Furthermore, he criticized the role of Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who allegedly acted in an extremely uncivil manner to ensure uncontested victories for his relatives, resorting to coercive measures, threats to opponents, and other forms of misconduct.

“CCTV footage of these occurrences was reportedly destroyed by the administration. Although an inquiry was initiated following complaints from various parties, no action has been taken against Narwekar,” he remarked.

The Congress party has firmly stated its position regarding uncontested elections: wherever candidates are elected without opposition, the NOTA option must be made available. The party will also consult legal experts about potentially approaching the courts,” Sapkal added.

In response to remarks made by BJP state president Ravindra Chavan concerning former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, the Congress president affirmed that Deshmukh’s legacy and contributions are vast and beyond dispute.

“The BJP leadership — Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ravindra Chavan — is entrenched in power's arrogance. Their followers often make crude and inappropriate remarks; the Congress denounces such statements. However, the BJP’s attitude indicates a desire not only to erase the memory of Vilasrao Deshmukh but also to diminish the contributions of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pramod Mahajan, and Gopinath Munde,” he noted.

In response to comments from Union Minister C.R. Patil, the Congress president suggested that one should read Govind Pansare’s book to grasp the true essence of Shivaji. More crucially, Patil should clarify his stance regarding the ideology that opposed Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation,” Sapkal concluded.