Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Monday said that Opposition MLAs’ decision to not take oath on the first day of the special session of Maharashtra Assembly alleging EVM “misuse” was “anti-constitutional” and also termed it a “stunt”. “Instead of blaming the EVMs, it is important to face the reality,” said Ajit Pawar, while speaking at the Legislative Assembly on a resolution congratulating newly elected Speaker Rahul Narwekar. Ajit Pawar’s views were echoed by Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who asked the Opposition to accept the defeat. On December 7, the first day of the special three-day session of the Maharashtra Assembly, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) MLAs refused to take oath in protest against alleged misuse of EVMs in the recently held polls and the state government not allowing mock polls using ballot paper at Markadwadi village in Malshiras constituency. Reacting to this, Ajit Pawar said, “The behaviour on the first day, when they (opposition) decided not to take oath, was anti-constitutional. I had told everyone that these people would silently come and take the oath the next day. What was the need of that stunt?” Taking a dig at his estranged uncle and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar over his statements comparing number of votes and number of seats won by each party, Ajit Pawar said that he will talk in detail about those who are talking about number of votes. “We did not blame the EVMs when you won the Lok Sabha and instead of crying we started working. Instead of blaming the EVMs, it is important to face the reality,” he said. Shinde referred to the Supreme Court’s remarks while dismissing a plea seeking re-introduction of ballot papers in place of EVMs. “Even a Supreme Court justice recently said that why do you blame the EVMs only after the defeat,” said Shinde. Stating that there was a mere 0.5 per cent difference in vote share of the two alliances in the Lok Sabha elections, Shinde asked: “But you won 31 seats while we won only 17. Should we say that there was an EVM scam?” Meanwhile , state Congress chief and MLA Nana Patole said that the Opposition was happy to discuss the issue with the ruling side. “We are always ready to discuss the issue within the Assembly,” he said in the Assembly.
