‘Guaranteed' victory claim: Row erupts in Maharashtra; did you use ‘vote-riggers', Devendra Fadnavis asks Sharad Pawar

Time of India

3 days ago

Chief Minister Fadnavis strongly criticized Sharad Pawar's revelation about being offered guaranteed victories in the Maharashtra assembly polls. Fadnavis questioned Pawar's delayed response and suggested he should have reported the incident to authorities.
NAGPUR: Chief minister
Devendra Fadnavis
on Sunday launched a sharp attack on
NCP
(
Sharad Pawar
) founder Sharad Pawar over his recent revelation that last year two unidentified persons offered to "guarantee" victory in 160 out of 288 seats in the Maharashtra assembly polls, questioning if Pawar kept quiet for so long because he "used the services offered".
Addressing the media in Nagpur, Fadnavis said Pawar's remarks, made on Saturday, raised serious questions about political ethics and transparency.
"You are responsible citizens. If someone approaches you saying they can influence elections, why did you not file a complaint with the police or the Election Commission? Or did you use their services and are now speaking up?" he asked.
Pawar claimed that the mysterious duo first met him in Delhi and later he arranged a meeting with Rahul Gandhi.
Both leaders, according to Pawar, declined the offer as the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) wanted to contest "fairly." Dismissing this explanation, Fadnavis alleged, "It is shocking that such elements are being introduced to each other. If someone is conspiring, someone is saying they will commit fraud, your duty is to file a complaint.
This is not just casual talk - it is about the credibility of our democracy."
The CM said the incident could not be brushed aside as political gossip.
"The Election Commission has repeatedly thrown open a challenge to political parties, engineers and technocrats to try and hack EVMs, but no one has succeeded. If you believe there is fraud, take your evidence there. Instead, we hear these Salim-Javed style stories," he remarked, referring to Rahul Gandhi's statements.
Guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the opposition is making these claims is a case of "sour grapes".
"I want to challenge the opposition to find mistakes with the voter list now that local body polls are round the corner. They should go through the voter list now and come forward with any issues. But I know that the opposition will keep quiet now and then after results they will start complaining, blaming the voters list," Bawankule said.
On the Mandal Yatra launched by NCP (Sharad Pawar), Fadnavis accused the party of using OBC issues only for political gain.
"Three decades later, they suddenly remember OBCs. The reality is that for years, they denied benefits to the community and played double games on OBC reservation. Now, after the electoral setback, they want to reclaim lost ground by such yatras. But these will not yield results," he said.
Fadnavis also alleged that whenever OBC reservation was under threat, Pawar's camp failed to take a clear stand. "The OBC community has seen through this.
They know who stood firmly with them and who only gave speeches," he said.
Fadnavis added, "Maharashtra voters have given us a clear mandate. Spreading baseless stories and casting aspersions on that mandate is an insult to the people."
Bawankule agreed saying Pawar failed to help OBCs during his days in power. "For almost six decades he has been in active politics. In this time Pawar has held cabinet posts, been CM and a Union minister. But never did he remember OBCs then. The real justice to OBCs was given by BJP," said Bawankule.
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and
silver prices
in your area.