Maharashtra assembly polls: Oppn directs winning MLAs to be in Mumbai by tomorrow night; Pawar says MVA to get 157-162 seats
On Friday afternoon, Congress leaders, including AICC Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala, state Congress chief Nana Patole, legislative party leader Balasaheb Thorat and Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar held a meeting with all the Congress candidates.
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NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar asked them not to trust any exit poll. Party’s state unit chief Jayant Patil, gave directions to candidates to not leave counting centres until counting ends. (Image: X)The Opposition Congress and NCP (SP) in Maharashtra have asked all its winning candidates to be in Mumbai by Saturday night, without waiting for any victory processions in their respective constituencies.
The parties held an online meeting with their candidates on Friday to issue directions and guidelines to be followed on counting day.
According to sources, speaking to candidates in the online meeting, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar asked them not to trust any exit poll. “He asked the candidates to not give attention to the exit polls and said that the MVA is poised to win 157 to 162 seats,” a leader from the NCP-SP said.
Party’s state unit chief Jayant Patil, in the meeting, gave directions to candidates to not leave counting centres until the last vote is counted. “He asked the candidates to leave the counting centres only when the certificate of victory is handed to them, directed counting agents to be extremely vigilant and raise objections on the process if any mischief, however small, is sensed. Strict directions have been given to tally the votes with form 17 C and raise complaints immediately if any discrepancy is found,” the leader.
On Friday afternoon, Congress leaders, including AICC Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala, state Congress chief Nana Patole, legislative party leader Balasaheb Thorat and Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar held a meeting with all the Congress candidates.
A Congress leader said instructions have been given that all winning candidates on Saturday should remain present in Mumbai by night. “Formation of the government is a priority and celebrations can be arranged later,” the leader said, hinting that the party is not ready to take any chance.
After the meeting, Chennithala expressed confidence that the MVA would win the mandate of the people in the Assembly elections and form the government with a clear majority.
“The increased voter turnout in the Assembly polls is also expected to benefit the MVA, which is poised to secure a clear majority, eliminating the possibility of a hung Assembly,” he said.
On the question of the chief ministerial post, Chennithala clarified that there is no dispute over the issue. “The senior leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi will sit together and decide on the matter after the election results are announced,” he said.
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