A delegation of MNS leaders also met the State Election Commissioner with a list of demands, which included the use of VVPATs (voter verifiable paper audit trails), a method of providing feedback to voters who use an electronic voting machine
Raj Thackeray. File Pic
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Tuesday joined the Opposition demand to hold the upcoming civic body polls in the state using ballot papers, reported news agency PTI.
A delegation of MNS leaders also met the State Election Commissioner with a list of demands, which included the use of VVPATs (voter verifiable paper audit trails), a method of providing feedback to voters who use an electronic voting machine.
"It appears there is a problem in the electoral rolls. There was also an issue of use of VVPATs," MNS leader Shirish Sawant told reporters.
MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar said people think democracy is in "danger".
"What is the issue with holding polls using ballot papers? If you (the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition) think you will come to power irrespective of the Thackeray cousins (Raj and Uddhav) coming together, then hold polls using ballot papers," Nandgaonkar demanded, reported PTI.
The Shiv Sena (UBT), too, has been demanding holding elections using ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday accused the Election Commission (EC) of failing to address the allegations of "vote theft" raised by Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and questioned whether the poll panel was acting above the court, reported ANI.
Speaking to reporters, Thackeray claimed his party had presented several examples of alleged voter list irregularities, citing names such as Aditya Srivastava, Shakun Rani and Minta Devi, whom he referred to as "the oldest lady in the world, 124 years old," reported ANI.
He alleged that such cases had played a role in the BJP's victories over the last five to seven years.
"We are not just talking about vote theft in the air. We have shown many such people, be it Aditya Srivastava, Shakun Rani, and Minta Devi. Minta Devi is the oldest lady in the world, 124 years old... So, all this vote theft, due to which the BJP has been winning in the last 5-7 years, we have caught it," he said, reported ANI.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
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