Buldhana (Maharashtra) [India]: Ahead of Maharashtra assembly elections, Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday launched a blistering attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that they take votes in the name of religion.
“Maha Vikas Aghadi government is going to be formed. People like the issues with which we have moved forward. The enthusiasm and response we are getting in the campaign is very positive… They (BJP) want to create an atmosphere of fear… They should discuss issues like education, unemployment, and inflation… How long will they (BJP) take votes in the name of religion…” said Sachin Pilot.
Meanwhile, in a fresh controversy, the Election Commission of India (ECI) checked Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s bag after his helicopter landed in the Yamatwal assembly constituency where he was to address an election rally.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday came in support of the former Maharashtra Chief Minister, saying that it was wrong to target a party leader.
Thackeray expressed his anger, asking whether ECI officials checked the bags of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar.
Gehlot said that Thackeray was right in asking such a question.
“Uddhav Thackeray ji is right. If they are checking, they should inspect every one. There’s no problem then. But to target a party leader is wrong. The Election Commission should look into this and everyone should be checked,” the senior Congress leader said while talking to media.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with vote counting on November 23. The opposition MVA coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), aims to challenge the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP.