Following similar statements made by Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has also claimed that two individuals approached him before the Maharashtra assembly elections and promised him victory. Thackeray said he did not take them seriously as he does not believe in manipulating the election process. He was addressing a press conference in Mumbai after his party conducted a statewide protest campaign for the ouster of corrupt ministers from the state government.
"Such people who assure you of victory always come to meet during every election but I dismissed them because we do not believe in manipulating the election process. However, now we will have to see carefully if they come again and understand their claim through a serious discussion," Thackeray said.
He also called the arrest of INDIA alliance Members of Parliament (MPs) in New Delhi "unlawful and shameful" for the world's largest democracy. "I was told that the MPs were told that they were being taken to meet election commissioners, and then they were suddenly arrested. This is not good for democracy. I expected senior ministers from the NDA government to come out to meet INDIA alliance MPs and resolve the issue through discussion," Thackeray added.
He further accused the Election Commissioners of thinking they were more powerful than even the President of India and the Supreme Court. "What do they think of themselves, are they bigger than the honourable President and Supreme Court, how can they refuse to give information on the charges made by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi," asked Uddhav Thackeray.
Thackeray also said that he wants voters and people to be more aware and make sure that there are no other voters registered at their addresses. "It is everyone's duty to make sure that there are no bogus voters and your name or address is not misused," he stated.
He said that his party has taken up a statewide campaign for the ouster of corrupt ministers from the Maharashtra government. "We exposed them during the assembly session, met the honourable Governor with our demand for their ouster. But no action is being taken by the chief minister. We will not sit quiet until the corrupt ministers are ousted," Thackeray asserted.
Sharad Pawar claims he was offered 160 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly polls provides additional context on Sharad Pawar's statements, which are referenced in the provided text.