The Congress on Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of giving a communal spin to the alleged vote theft issue in Maharashtra after Minister Ashish Shelar claimed that Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) were indulging in appeasement politics and targeting Hindu and Marathi voters, reported news agency PTI.
Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal launched a sharp attack on the BJP following Shelar’s comments, accusing the ruling party of trying to divert attention from serious issues by creating a “fake narrative”.
Speaking at a press conference, Sapkal alleged that the BJP governments at both the Centre and in Maharashtra had come to power by “stealing votes”.
He said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had already exposed, with “proof,” how the BJP had “rigged elections with the help of the Election Commission”.
“It was Congress and Rahul Gandhi who first raised the issue of vote theft. Now, opposition parties across the country are voicing concerns about it. Serious questions have been raised about the functioning of the Election Commission,” Sapkal said.
He added, “The BJP is even viewing the issue of vote theft through a Hindu-Muslim lens. One can only pity their mindset.”
Shelar had earlier alleged that multiple voter entries from Muslim and other minority communities were being ignored while issues concerning Hindus, Dalits, and Marathis were being highlighted.
“The Thackeray brothers should introspect,” Shelar said.
Sapkal also downplayed his reported absence from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) march held in Mumbai on November 1 to protest against the Election Commission, PTI reported.
“Congress leaders and workers participated in the march, but the BJP criticised it. My participation is secondary; the issue of vote theft is of prime importance,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Congress also hit out at the BJP-led Mahayuti government over the alleged suicide of a woman doctor in Satara district, reported PTI.
National Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib demanded the immediate arrest of a former BJP Member of Parliament (MP) in connection with the case.
“To ensure a fair and transparent investigation, an SIT comprising High Court judges should be constituted. When the chief minister gives a clean chit to the accused even before the probe, how can officials conduct a fair inquiry?” Chib asked.
He claimed that the doctor took her life due to harassment by the former parliamentarian and the police.
“If the government fails to set up an SIT with judicial participation by November 10, the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress will march to the chief minister’s residence, Varsha, and stage a protest,” warned Chib.
Separately, the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress Executive Committee met on Monday to discuss preparations for the upcoming local body elections and measures to strengthen the organisation.
(With PTI inputs)
