Did Raj Thackeray Just Accuse the EC of 96 Lakh Fake Voter Entries in Maharashtra?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 96 lakh fake voters allegedly added to electoral rolls.
- Thackeray demands a thorough cleansing of voter lists.
- Accusations target BJP and its coalition partners.
- Concerns raised about the integrity of upcoming local body elections.
- Electoral fairness is crucial for democracy.
Mumbai, Oct 19 (NationPress) Raj Thackeray, the chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has leveled grave accusations against the Election Commission, claiming that around 96 lakh fraudulent voters have been added to Maharashtra's electoral rolls.
During a rally, he reiterated his criticisms of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Thackeray's statements targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, such as the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
He urged the Election Commission to rectify the voter lists and postpone the upcoming local body elections until all political parties endorse the corrections.
Speaking to MNS booth-level workers in Mumbai's Goregaon, he described manipulated elections as a severe insult to the electorate.
The MNS leader stated that conducting elections with altered voter rolls predetermines the results, regardless of public engagement, comparing it to a rigged political contest.
He questioned why ruling parties were intervening when the matter was directed at the Election Commission, implying that it was a sensitive issue as they were aware of the manipulations at play.
Raj Thackeray asserted that there were efforts to marginalize regional political parties, revealing that he had been informed of 96 lakh fictitious entries added to the voter list prior to the local body elections, a strategy allegedly being utilized ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections as well.
He mentioned that between 8 and 10 lakh bogus voters had been registered in Mumbai, with similar figures of 8 to 8.5 lakh in Thane, Pune, and Nashik.
Thackeray pointed out that the electoral calculations were fundamentally flawed, dismissing criticism of certain parties not winning seats, as it was widely recognized how those victories were achieved.
Reflecting on the recent Assembly elections, he noted that the election of 232 MLAs from the MahaYuti alliance left Maharashtra in shock, with both voters and winners seemingly astonished.
He suggested that the tactics used in national elections have now become evident to all.
During the public rally, Raj Thackeray showcased a historic clip of PM Modi from his opposition days, where he accused the Election Commission of bias.
He pointed out that the BJP had raised similar complaints when not in power, criticizing the current leadership of the party.
He stressed that discrepancies in voter lists have been a long-standing issue, one he raised as early as 2016-17 regarding electronic voting machines and electoral rolls.
These allegations come as preparations for local elections ramp up, heightening concerns over the integrity of the electoral process in Maharashtra.
The Election Commission has yet to respond to Raj Thackeray's claims.