Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday accused the State Election Commission (SEC) of colluding with the Mahayuti government to make the ruling alliance win the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The MNS chief accused the state poll body of allowing the ruling alliance to continue canvassing even after the official campaign for the civic elections ended.
"The SEC is helping the government win the polls that it has lost," the MNS leader told presspersons. He asked why the new norm of allowing door-to-door campaigning till the last day was introduced, and why it was not allowed during the Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
"Why was this concession given? Why was the rule changed? Is the SEC there to do what the government wants?" he asked.The SEC was changing rules on the eve of the January 15 polls to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and 28 other municipal corporations in Maharashtra, Thackeray alleged.
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The MNS leader also targeted the state poll body for introducing Printing Auxiliary Display Unit (PADU) this election. Thackeray charged none of the political parties were aware of it nor a demo of the machine was shown before polls.
According to BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, PADU are backup units and will be used for vote counting in the event of technical glitches in electronic voting machines (EVMs). Gagrani said PADU units will be used only during emergency situations.
