BJP and Shinde Sena Slam Sharad Pawar Over EVM Allegations After His Markadwadi Visit

The BJP and Shinde Sena have hit back at NCP (Sharad Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar after his visit to Markadwadi village in Solapur district, where he raised questions over the credibility of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and conducted a mock "repoll" using ballot papers.

During his visit on Sunday, Pawar praised the villagers, stating they had "shown the right direction to the whole country." However, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde criticized the veteran leader, accusing the opposition of hypocrisy. "You won in Jharkhand, Karnataka, and even performed well in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Are EVMs reliable only when you win? This double standard is clear," Shinde said.

Shinde attributed the Mahayuti's sweeping victory to the Ladki Bahin scheme and asserted that the opposition’s repeated criticism stems from its inability to accept defeat. He also accused the opposition of selective outrage towards Supreme Court verdicts, labeling it "dangerous for democracy." Dismissing allegations of electoral malpractice, Shinde said the state elections were conducted in a free and fair manner.

Pointing to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Shinde noted that despite securing more votes than the Maha Vikas Aghadi, Mahayuti won fewer seats. "Should we call it an EVM scam?" he asked.

State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule also refuted the opposition's claims, using historical data to challenge Pawar’s allegations. On social media platform X, Bawankule highlighted that Markadwadi voters have historically supported multiple parties. He cited statistics from the 2014, 2019, and 2024 elections, emphasizing that no single party has consistently dominated the village.

"In 2014, NCP’s Vijaysinh Mohite Patil received 533 votes, while Sadabhau Khot of the grand alliance secured 664 votes. Similarly, during the 2014 Assembly elections, NCP’s Hanumant Dolas garnered 294 votes, while independent candidate Anant Khandagale received 979 votes," Bawankule shared. He urged Pawar to “stop spreading illusions and accept the reality of voting statistics.”

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also weighed in on the controversy, calling on Pawar to refrain from misleading the public. Citing election data, he pointed out discrepancies in seat allocation despite vote shares. "In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP got 1,49,13,914 votes and nine seats, while Congress secured 96,41,856 votes and 13 seats. Accept defeat and move forward," Fadnavis remarked.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray launched a scathing counterattack, alleging electoral manipulation. "Bawankule follows the constitution of China and Macau. You formed an illegal government for two-and-a-half years and won the election through EVM rigging," Thackeray alleged.
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