Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray met AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi, calling it a gesture of friendship. However, he also raised concerns over alleged electoral irregularities, accusing the Election Commission of voter list manipulation.
Pic/ PTI
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray met Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday, describing the interaction as a "gesture of friendship." However, he also expressed serious concerns regarding electoral fairness, alleging irregularities in the voting process across multiple states.
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"Governments come and go, but relationships remain," Thackeray remarked after the meeting, as per PTI reports. He was accompanied by senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut and Priyanka Chaturvedi. The leaders discussed the recent Delhi Assembly elections and deliberated on the future of the opposition INDIA bloc.
Thackeray accused the Election Commission (EC) of large-scale manipulation in voters' lists, claiming that such irregularities were observed not just in Maharashtra but also in Haryana, Odisha, and Delhi. "The Election Commission has deprived people of their right to vote. It is not even willing to discuss this issue," he stated. He further asserted that the opposition would formally raise this matter to ensure accountability.
Highlighting the importance of electoral transparency, Thackeray stated, "Free and fair elections are essential for the country." According to PTI, he stressed that any compromises in the electoral process could undermine the democratic structure of the nation.
The February 5 Delhi Assembly elections saw a decisive victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which secured 48 out of 70 seats, while AAP managed to win 22. The Congress, which is also a part of the opposition INDIA bloc alongside Shiv Sena (UBT) and AAP, failed to win a single seat for the third consecutive election.
AAP has alleged that the Congress sabotaged its chances in at least 13 seats, further straining ties within the opposition alliance. The meeting between Thackeray and Kejriwal is being seen as an attempt to foster unity within the INDIA bloc and strategise for future elections.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray meets Rahul Gandhi in Delhi amid rumblings within MVA
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray met with Congress leader and Lok Sabha’s LoP Rahul Gandhi amid rumblings in the opposition MVA after NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar felicitated Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, PTI reported.
He met Gandhi in New Delhi late on Wednesday.
As per PTI, the duo has also learnt to have discussed allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the conduct of elections.
Aditya Thackeray is also scheduled to meet AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, whose party lost the Delhi assembly elections held last week.
Maharashtra's opposition coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has been in turmoil after Sharad Pawar handed out the Mahadji Shinde Rashtra Gaurav Puraskar to Eknath Shinde, who had walked away with the majority of legislators of the then-undivided Shiv Sena in 2022 which toppled Uddhav Thackeray's government, PTI reported.
Shinde became the chief minister of Maharashtra with support from the BJP and subsequently gained control of the Shiv Sena.
The Mahayuti alliance consisting of the BJP, Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won the Maharashtra elections 2024, giving a major blow to the MVA, which was hoping to repeat their 2024 Lok Sabha elections performance, PTI reported.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has termed Shinde as a "traitor" and was shocked to see Pawar felicitate him with an award instituted by Pune-based NGO Sarhad.
"Those who are anti-Maharashtra are anti-nationals. We cannot honour such persons who indulge in such dirty work. This goes against our principles. I am not aware of his (Pawar's) principles," Aditya Thackeray said, PTI reported.
The BJP came to power in Delhi, winning 48 out of the 70 assembly seats in the city, while AAP managed to secure 22 in the assembly elections held last week.
According to PTI, the Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been alleging that the Congress, which drew a blank for the third consecutive elections, sabotaged its chances of getting at least 13 seats.
In last year's Maharashtra assembly election, the Mahayuti bagged 235 seats in the 288-member House while the opposition MVA managed 50.
(With inputs from PTI)
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