Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has questioned why Nationalist Congress Party (Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar recalled meeting two people who allegedly promised to manipulate votes in favour of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, only after his meeting with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
"Has Pawar also started speaking from a pre-written script like Rahul Gandhi?” Fadnavis asked, accusing him of being an “escapist” who makes false statements instead of proving allegations.
Pawar had told reporters that before the last Assembly elections, two individuals had met him and assured that they could secure 160 seats for the MVA "by tampering with votes". Pawar said that after arranging their meeting with Rahul Gandhi, both he and Gandhi decided to reject the offer and rely on the people’s mandate.
Reacting to this, Fadnavis pointed out that in the past, while Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders accused the Election Commission and EVMs of malpractice, Pawar had repeatedly expressed disagreement with such claims. "Why then, only after meeting Rahul Gandhi now, does Pawar suddenly remember people who could manipulate votes?” he questioned.
Fadnavis further criticised opposition leaders for publicly expressing distrust in the Election Commission but refuse to appear before it when summoned, and decline to submit sworn affidavits on their claims, when asked.
Following Pawar’s remarks, both the ruling parties and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) have criticised him. On social media, the VBA raised many questions and said why did you not lodge a complaint with the police or the Election Commission? Instead, you took them to Rahul Gandhi to discuss alleged poll manipulation.
The VBA also asked Pawar "if you claim you did not know their names or addresses, how did they enter Rahul Gandhi’s residence without identification? Their names could be verified from the entry register. Your intentions appear unclear. If you knew election rigging could occur in the Maharashtra Assembly polls, why did you remain silent? On whose advice did you stay quiet for so long?"
If Pawar fails to answer these questions, it could cast doubt on the intent and credibility of his statements and potentially land him in trouble, the VBA said. (Inputs from UNI)
