Ahead of the Maharashtra civic polls, the MNS chief accused the state poll body of changing rules to allow door-to-door canvassing after campaigning ended, alleging it favours the ruling Mahayuti. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also levelled similar allegations earlier in the day
MNS chief Raj Thackeray. File pic
Ahead of the Maharashtra civic polls, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday slammed the state election commission (SEC) for allowing door-to-door canvassing after the official campaign for the civic elections ended, news agency PTI reported. The MNS chief further claimed that the state poll body was helping the ruling Mahayuti win the polls.
While talking to the media on Wednesday, Thackeray said the SEC was changing rules on the eve of the January 15 polls for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and 28 other municipal corporations in Maharashtra.
"The SEC is helping the government win the polls that it has lost,” he emphasised.
Thackeray also asked why this 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?" alleged Thackeray.
Sanjay Raut levels similar allegations, says SEC supporting Mahayuti
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut also alleged that SEC has given a licence to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to "distribute money door-to-door".
The official public canvassing for the polls ended on Tuesday evening, but SEC said that candidates can visit voters' homes, provided the number of persons does not exceed five, and there is no use of microphones.
The poll body has cited an order dated February 14, 2012, to state that such personal contact does not amount to public canvassing.
In view of countering the situation, Thackeray asked the workers of the MNS and ally Shiv Sena (UBT) to stay alert and keep an eye on candidates of the ruling parties, claiming they could distribute money.
Raj Thackeray alleges Adani Group expansion under BJP rule
Thackeray on Monday also reiterated his allegations against the BJP, accusing the party of favouring industrialist Gautam Adani and enabling the rapid expansion of the Adani Group across Mumbai, Maharashtra, and the country.
In a post on social media platform X, Thackeray referred to the maps shown during his rally on Sunday, January 11, with cousin Uddhav, claiming they illustrated how major infrastructure and business projects were awarded to the Adani Group after the BJP came to power.
During his address, Thackeray used maps from 2014 and 2025 to argue that Adani’s business footprint had expanded dramatically under BJP rule. He claimed that while Adani had limited projects earlier, the conglomerate now operates across sectors such as electricity, cement, ports, airports, and infrastructure, allegedly with government backing.
(With inputs from PTI)
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