India General Elections 2024: BJP files complaint with EC against Uddhav Thackeray's press conference

Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday wrote to the Election Commission of India alleging that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray violated the model code of conduct by holding a press conference here even as voting for the fifth phase of the India general elections 2024 was underway in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra, reported news agency PTI.

Thackeray spoke to reporters about 5 pm, alleging that the polling process was facing delays at several places in Mumbai and the Election Commission was doing this deliberately at the behest of the Narendra Modi government. Voting was slow especially in the areas where the opposition was strong, he claimed.

Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar stated in his letter to the ECI that Thackeray's press conference was in violation of the model code of conduct as voting was taking place all over Mumbai when he spoke, reported PTI.

Thackeray made baseless allegations against PM Modi and tried to mislead the electorate into believing that the government or the ruling party was influencing the ECI, Shelar said, reported PTI.

"Such statements are blatantly false, mischievous and defamatory in nature," he added, reported PTI.

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray alleged on Monday afternoon that voting was delayed at several places in Mumbai and the Election Commission of India was doing this deliberately at the behest of the Narendra Modi government.

Delay was taking place at the polling booths in areas where his party expects more votes, he said at a press conference here while urging electors to stand in queues as long as early morning if the process was slow.

"Dirty games are being played through the Election Commission. There is a lot of enthusiasm among voters, but the Election Commission is acting in a partisan manner. There is a delay by EC's representatives in certain areas," Thackeray alleged.

Officials were cross-checking names several times, and women and senior citizens were facing problems at polling booths, the former Maharashtra chief minister said.

There was no drinking water at many places, he claimed.

"The Modi government is using the EC as its handmaiden due to its fear of losing. This is a ploy of the Modi government to ensure that voting against it is minimized," Thackeray alleged.

Mumbai recorded a turnout of 52.27 percent, lower than that in 2019, in the India general elections 2024 on Monday amid sultry weather and complaints of delays in the polling process.

The constituency of Mumbai South, home to industrialists as well as high-ranking government officials, fared the worst with 47.7 percent voting.

In 2019, the polling percentage across the six Lok Sabha constituencies in the city was 55.38 per cent.

Mumbai North constituency witnessed 55.21 percent polling on Monday, Mumbai North Central 51.42 percent, Mumbai North East 53.75 percent, Mumbai North West 53.67 percent, Mumbai South 47.70 percent and Mumbai South Central 51.88 percent, as per the Election Commission's data.

(With inputs from PTI)