Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India]: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has called for a shift to ballot paper voting to address public concerns about the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He also proposed that the Election Commissioner be elected by the people, similar to the process for electing the President of India.
Speaking at a press conference in Nagpur, Thackeray said:
“The issue of ‘One Nation, One Election’ can come later. First, the Election Commissioner should be elected by the people. If there are doubts about EVMs, they must be resolved. Let voting happen using ballot papers once. If the same majority is achieved, no one will question it again.”
Election Reforms Demand
Thackeray’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about the credibility of EVMs in Indian elections. Opposition parties, including the Congress, have previously raised concerns over potential EVM hacking, citing alleged irregularities in several state and general elections.
Congress MP Rajeev Shukla criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday, stating:
“We have demonstrated the possibility of EVM hacking multiple times, but the Election Commission did not accept our demonstrations.”
Maharashtra Election Results
The recent Maharashtra Assembly elections witnessed a landslide victory for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which won 235 seats.
- BJP: 132 seats (single-largest party)
- Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction): 57 seats
- Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction): 41 seats
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance suffered a major setback:
- Congress: 16 seats
- Shiv Sena (UBT): 20 seats
- NCP (Sharad Pawar faction): 10 seats
On Mahayuti’s Leadership Challenges
Responding to reports of dissatisfaction among some Mahayuti leaders over cabinet appointments, Thackeray commented:
“Let them run the government, they will find out. Whatever was said about me earlier is now being exposed. People can see what is being said about them.”
While he denied any recent communication with Chhagan Bhujbal regarding the matter, Thackeray affirmed that Bhujbal remains in regular contact with him.
Broader Implications
Thackeray’s call for election reforms and ballot paper voting reflects a growing sentiment among opposition leaders to reassess India’s electoral processes. With political tensions high in Maharashtra, his comments also underscore the challenges faced by the Mahayuti government in maintaining unity and public confidence.