Raj Thackeray Calls for Abandonment of EVMs and Cancellation of Voter Roll Revision in Maharashtra

In a bold move, Raj Thackeray, the chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has urged the cancellation of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Maharashtra and advocated for a return to traditional ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs). Speaking at a rally in Mumbai on Sunday, Thackeray expressed concerns regarding potential irregularities within the electoral process.

During the rally, which was co-led by Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Raj Thackeray raised alarm over the reported removal of around two crore voters through the SIR initiative. He queried, “Who are these two crore individuals whose names have been deleted?” His insistence on transparency in the electoral process resonated with many attendees, including leaders from the Nationalist Congress Party and Congress, who joined in criticizing the handling of voter lists.

The rally was aimed at highlighting grievances against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and his alleged mishandling of the SIR process. Raj Thackeray called upon all political parties in Delhi to unite in demanding the scrapping of the SIR, thereby amplifying the voices of those who have become disenfranchised.

This gathering marks a significant moment, especially as the MNS and Shiv Sena have historically been rivals since Thackeray split from the original Shiv Sena in 2005 to form the MNS a year later. However, recent months have seen a thaw in relations as both parties have begun to collaborate on matters of mutual interest, particularly concerning electoral integrity.

Thackeray’s comments also extended to the notable increase in registered voters between the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the Maharashtra Assembly elections, a development that he views with skepticism. As the political landscape becomes increasingly contentious, calls for a return to traditional voting methods may gain traction among parties wary of the reliability of current electronic systems.

Source: scroll.in