Sharad Pawar's Anti-EVM Rally in Solapur Sparks BJP's Fierce Counterattack: A Political Showdown Unfolds!

Sharad Pawar attended an anti-EVM event in Markadwadi, Solapur, following the booking of villagers and a local MLA for organizing a mock re-election with ballot papers, aiming to challenge the validity of the village election results.

P24 News Media

December 08, 2024

1 minute

Sharad Pawar's Anti-EVM Rally in Solapur Sparks BJP's Fierce Counterattack: A Political Showdown Unfolds!

India

On Sunday, Sharad Pawar organized a protest against Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the village of Markadwadi, located in the Solapur district. This demonstration stemmed from the dissatisfaction experienced by the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, which faced significant losses in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections.

During the event, Pawar engaged with local residents and subsequently delivered a speech. He expressed his astonishment at learning that villagers had faced legal repercussions for advocating a preference for ballot-based elections, citing a lack of confidence in EVMs and their results. He conveyed his commitment to relay the villagers' grievances to both the Election Commission and the Chief Minister, insisting on the necessity of returning to ballot voting rather than relying on electronic systems.

Pawar made a compelling argument, highlighting that various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and others in Europe, continue to conduct their elections using paper ballots rather than electronic machines. He posed a rhetorical question to the audience, urging, "If nations around the world can successfully hold elections via ballot papers, why can’t we do the same?"

In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was quick to respond to Pawar's remarks, accusing him of misleading the electorate of Maharashtra. Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the state BJP president, firmly stated that Pawar should acknowledge his defeat in the assembly elections. He pointed out that the claims made by Pawar during the Lok Sabha elections had been resoundingly rejected by the public. Bawankule further criticized Pawar for attending the event, suggesting that it was inappropriate for someone of his stature to propagate falsehoods.

He continued his criticism by asserting that Maharashtra holds a deep respect for Pawar. He referenced the legitimacy of previous elections held in Markadwadi and across Maharashtra using EVMs, emphasizing that there had never been complaints until this recent debacle. He pointed out that Pawar and his party remained silent when their representatives were elected as Members of Parliament, hinting at a certain hypocrisy in their current stance against EVMs. Bawankule speculated that Pawar’s protests were motivated by a desire to salvage his reputation with impending local body elections on the horizon, predicting a poor outcome for the Maha Vikas Aghadi in those contests.

Turning to the specifics of what transpired in Markadwadi, it is noteworthy that this small village within the Malshiras assembly constituency had intended to conduct a mock re-poll using paper ballots. This initiative was conceived as a means to validate the voting results, as local residents believed the declared outcome deviated from their actual voting patterns. Despite the seat being claimed by Uttam Jankar, the community felt that the results did not reflect their collective will.

The proposed mock election faced immediate backlash, as local law enforcement intervened to halt the exercise, citing prohibitory orders. Several villagers, along with Jankar, found themselves embroiled in legal trouble for allegedly disrupting public order and for spreading misinformation within the community. This incident highlights the tension surrounding the electoral process in the region and raises significant questions about the trustworthiness of the systems in place.

This unfolding scenario in Markadwadi not only illustrates the ongoing disputes surrounding election integrity in Maharashtra but also underscores a broader conversation about the methods used for conducting elections in India and their potential impact on democracy at the grassroots level.