‘Excess voting’ allegations by Opp: ‘Why didn’t Opp parties’ poll agents raise objections during elections?’: Athawale defends BJP

He said, “What exactly was the role of UBT Sena, MNS, Congress and its allies’ polling agents during the elections? Did Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party UBT Sena, MNS, not trust their own polling agents?”

Mahatekar said that in every election, the Election Commission summons polling agents from all concerned political parties to verify voter identities  so that bogus voting is prevented.

He said that on polling day, these agents verify the identity of each voter, following which the election officer completes all necessary checks before allowing the voter to cast their ballot. “If there really was excess voting in the last Assembly elections, why did the polling agents of Congress and its allies not raise any objections? This is a matter that warrants serious consideration,” said Mahatekar.

He added that, with the Bihar Assembly elections and the upcoming local body polls in Maharashtra in mind, the Congress party has deliberately played politics over “excess voting” merely to mislead voters.

Earlier, Opposition leaders met the Election Commission in Delhi to complain against irregularities in electoral rolls.

The opposition leaders from Maha Vikas Aghadi and MNS demanded local body elections in Maharashtra be postponed. However, the State Election Commission dismissed their pleas and announced the first phase of polls to municipal councils and nagar parishads.

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