congress-alleges-conspiracy-behind-maharashtra-poll-outcome

The Congress has alleged that the outcome of the Maharashtra Assembly elections was influenced by a deliberate conspiracy to defeat the opposition, disrupting the level playing field.

 

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh expressed shock over the results, claiming Maha Vikas Aghadi's unexpected performance was a result of targeted efforts against the coalition.

 

Speaking at a press conference following the announcement of the election results, Ramesh said the poll process in Maharashtra lacked fairness. He described the results as “unexpected and shocking” and asserted that the Congress’s morale remained intact despite the setback.

 

He emphasised the party’s commitment to strengthening itself and addressing electoral concerns.

 

In the elections, the Mahayuti alliance comprising the BJP, Ajit Pawar's NCP faction, and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena secured an overwhelming victory, winning 164 seats and leading in 66 more.

 

In contrast, the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which includes the Congress, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, and Sharad Pawar's NCP faction, managed only 33 seats and was leading in 18 others.

 

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera also raised serious doubts about the election process. He questioned the stark contrast between the BJP’s performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections and the assembly polls, highlighting the BJP's surprisingly high strike rate.

 

Khera suggested that such results warrant closer scrutiny and transparency in electoral practices.

 

Khera also accused the Election Commission of failing to address the opposition’s complaints regarding irregularities. He mentioned instances such as the deletion of voters’ names from electoral rolls and questioned whether anti-incumbency sentiment could be so easily reversed.

 

He further criticised the reliance on electronic voting machines, drawing parallels between the lack of trust in leaked exam papers and scepticism about the voting process.

 

According to Khera, the party’s repeated appeals for clarity from the Election Commission have gone unanswered, leaving their concerns unresolved.