Harshvardhan Sapkal
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has accused the BJP-led government of manipulating voter lists to secure victory in the recent state assembly elections. Congress leaders have demanded an investigation into the alleged irregularities, claiming that the Election Commission and the central government are deliberately ignoring the issue.
MPCC president Harshvardhan Sapkal announced a statewide awareness campaign to expose the alleged fraud, stating that the BJP-led alliance has established an “unconstitutional and fixed government” through electoral malpractice.
Speaking at a press conference following a meeting with party representatives from 30 assembly constituencies, Mr. Sapkal alleged that the BJP-led alliance, under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, came to power by rigging the electoral process. He claimed that the Election Commission has been evasive in providing information about the discrepancies in the voter lists, despite repeated requests from the Congress.
Congress Working Committee member Gurdeep Sappal questioned the Election Commission’s delay in releasing the voter list data, stating, “The Election Commission claims the system is foolproof, yet it takes six months to provide basic information. All they need to do is copy and paste the data. Why the delay?”
Pravin Chakravarty, head of the Congress Data Analytics Department, revealed that Maharashtra saw an unprecedented increase of 40 lakh voters in the five months between the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. He pointed out that this surge is higher than the total voter increase over the past five years. Chakravarty also highlighted discrepancies in vote shares, noting that the BJP-led alliance received 70 lakh more votes in the state assembly elections compared to the Lok Sabha polls, while the MVA’s vote share remained consistent.
Mr. Sappal criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their absence at the Kumbh Mela, questioning their commitment to Hindu traditions. “Modi has been Prime Minister for 11 years and was Gujarat’s Chief Minister for 12 years before that. Did he or Shah attend any Kumbh Mela during this time? Why is no one questioning RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s absence at the Prayagraj Kumbh?” Mr. Sappal asked.
While Mr. Sapkal condemned the insensitive remarks made by State Home Minister Yogesh Kadam regarding the recent rape case at Swargate Bus Station in Pune. Kadam had suggested that the victim did not resist the assault, sparking widespread outrage. Sapkal demanded Kadam’s immediate dismissal from the cabinet, stating, “The minister’s statement is disgraceful, uncultured, and distorted. Is he defending the perpetrator? This government has lost all sense of morality.”
Mr. Sapkal announced that the Congress will take the issue of electoral fraud to the public, as the central government and the Election Commission have failed to address their concerns. He reiterated that the party will continue to fight for transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
The Congress’s allegations have added fuel to the ongoing political turmoil in Maharashtra, with the opposition demanding immediate action to restore public trust in the democratic process.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sapkal has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing the BJP-led state government of exploiting vehicle owners through exorbitant fees for high-security registration plates (HSRP). Sapkal described the charges as akin to a “Jizya” tax and demanded immediate action to stop what he termed the “looting” of vehicle owners.
In his letter, Mr. Sapkal said that the fees for HSRP in Maharashtra are significantly higher compared to other states, with rates being double or even triple. He questioned the rationale behind the disparity, pointing out that while neighbouring Goa charges ₹155 for two-wheelers, Maharashtra demands ₹450. Similarly, for three-wheelers, Goa charges ₹155, whereas Maharashtra imposes ₹500. For four-wheelers, the fee in Maharashtra is ₹745, compared to ₹203 in Goa. Other states like Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Punjab also levy lower fees.
He alleged that the Maharashtra government has concealed the 18% GST applied to these plates, further burdening vehicle owners.
Published – March 01, 2025 07:21 am IST
