• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Maharashtra News: In a big move, the winning MLAs from the opposition bloc, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), on Saturday boycotted the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected MLAs in the Maharashtra Assembly. The move came on the day when a three-day special session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly began, during which Pro-tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar is scheduled to administer oath to the MLAs.

Announcing the decision, Shiv Sena UBT leader, Aaditya Thackeray, alleged tampering with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and said, "We boycotted the oath-taking ceremony today as democracy is being murdered by the use of EVMs. This (the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections) is not the mandate of the public it is the mandate of EVM and the Election Commission of India."

The opposition is also protesting against the curfew and arrests in Markadwadi village in Malshiras assembly constituency in Solapur, where the villagers sought a 're-poll' using ballot papers.

"Whenever we talk about checking the EVM, VVPAT they (ECI) always say to have mockpolls. They don't allow us to check it 100%. The elections transparently took place. If there is no problem with the EVMs then what is the problem with conducting repolls in the Markadwadi village if the entire village is demanding so? We are with the people of Markadwadi village," Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said.

The opposition in Maharashtra has alleged EVM tampering since the results of the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 were announced in November. The MVA -- comprising of Congress, Shiv Sena UBT and NCP SCP -- suffered a massive drubbing in the elections, with the three parties winning only 53 seats together. The ruling Mahayuti -- Shiv Sena, NCP and BJP -- garnered 230 seats of the 288 assembly segments in Maharashtra. The BJP won 132 seats, while Shinde Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP won 57 and 41 seats, respectively.

Responding to the boycott, NCP chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar dismissed the allegations of the opposition and said that they should approach the Election Commission if they have any complaints against the EVMs. "There is no point in making such allegations here. They (the opposition) should go to the Election Commission and if they do not get justice there, they should approach the court," Ajit Pawar said.

The special session of the Lower House of the state legislature began today at 11 am. Several members belonging to the ruling parties, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, took oath as members of the assembly. The three leaders were administered the oath as MLAs by the legislative assembly's pro-tem speaker Kalidas Kolambkar. The new government was sworn in on December 5 with Devendra Fadnavis returning as the chief minister, while Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar took oath as deputy chief ministers.