BJP Leader Accuses Thackeray Brothers of Targeting Hindu, Marathi, Dalit Voters
Shelar slams selective outrage over Maharashtra voter fraud.
Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar sharply questioned the Thackeray brothers' campaign against alleged fake voters during a Mumbai press conference, accusing them of targeting only Hindu, Marathi, and Dalit names in a bid to stoke communal discord ahead of civic polls. He labeled the opposition's approach as "vote jihad," asserting that such selective scrutiny undermines the Bhoomiputra ethos and ignores broader irregularities across communities.
Shelar highlighted discrepancies in the Karjat-Jamkhed constituency, represented by NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, by citing voter entries with identical serial numbers but varying details, deliberately selecting Muslim names to underscore what he termed the opposition's "selective outrage." He challenged, "You scrutinize Bhoir and Patil, but overlook these names?" emphasizing that MVA and MNS efforts focus on ruling party strongholds where victory margins were narrower than duplicate entries from certain demographics.
In response, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray dismissed Shelar's remarks as a "self-goal," interpreting them as an inadvertent admission of flaws in the electoral rolls. Thackeray clarified that the opposition seeks comprehensive verification of all entries, not targeted removals, and announced that party shakhas would serve as "voter identity centres" starting November 6 to assist citizens in checking family registrations.
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Thackeray expressed alarm over the exclusion of Gen Z voters turning 18 after October 2024 from the upcoming polls, arguing that such youth, driving global movements, deserve full electoral participation. He urged first-time voters to visit shakhas for documentation of omissions, warning party workers against complacency with the phrase, "If you sleep now, you'll be finished."
The escalating dispute reflects deeper anxieties over electoral integrity, with opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi alleging systemic "vote chori" by the BJP, while the ruling alliance counters with claims of divisive tactics. As revised lists publish on November 6, demands for postponing civic polls until thorough cleansing intensify, threatening to reshape Maharashtra's political landscape.
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