India general elections 2024: Opposition reacts to Ravindra Waikar EVM row, BJP retorts

Ravindra Waikar. File Pic

The opposition slammed the ruling Mahayuti after the news report surfaced about Ravindra Waikar's kin allegedly possessing phone connected to EVM at Goregaon's NESCO centre during counting of votes.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray shared a mid-day report and questioned waikar while party spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi questioned the Election Commission on platform 'X'.

During investigations, the Vanrai police has found that the accused Mangesh Pandilkar, relative of Ravindra Waikar - Shiv Sena candidate who won the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat by 48 votes - was using the phone which was connected to the Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs). Police said this mobile phone was used for generating the OTP that unlocked the EVM machine, which was used inside the NESCO Centre on June 4.

Priyanka Chaturvedi, in a post on X, posed questions for the ECI and was also seen explaining the situation in a video. She questioned whether if it would be correct for Ravindra Waikar, who won the constituency by 48 votes on June 4, to take oath as the new MP amidst the row.

"The case of the mindhe gang candidate from North West Mumbai gets murkier, as the gaddar candidate indulges in treachery with democracy now," said Aditya Thackeray in a post on X.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed concerns over transperacy of EVMs and the electrol process in a post on X.

Apart from the opposition, netizens shared Mid-day's news report on the investigations on their social media handles and expressed concerns over the situation questioning the Election Commission.

"Evidence of vote count manipulation by the Returning Officer of Mumbai North West has surfaced, with the MVA candidate losing by 48 votes. Reports suggest that Ravindra Waikar's relative had a device to unlock EVMs and was inside the counting center." said Pritesh Shah in a post.

"This is Very Serious Allegations @ECISVEEP ...what about some Accountability ??" said Harmeet Kaur K., another user.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Pallavi CT retorted the claims made against Mangesh Pandilkar saying, "if Waikar's relative had this great technology to UNLOCK EVM & tamper with them, then why didn't he ensure higher victory margins?"