Maharashtra Assembly Polls: 63 Petitions Filed By INDIA Bloc Candidates Challenging Results

Mumbai: The Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar) stormed to power in Maharashtra in November with a three-fourths majority.

BJP alone contributed 132 seats in Mahayuti’s tally of 230 in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, as the MVA alliance of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) was left with a meagre 52 seats.

That the resounding defeat, which the Congress and other parties blamed on EVMs, still rankles was evident from the revelation that dozens of petitions have been filed across various benches of Bombay High Court in Maharashtra against discrepancies in the Assembly election held in November.

January 7 was the last day of the stipulated 45-day deadline after declaration of results (November 23, 2024) within which election petitions had to be filed.

According to members of the opposition INDIA bloc, 63 election pleas have been filed challenging the results of Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Some of the petitions were filed earlier, but many were submitted on the last day, by the candidates themselves, as per rules.

Congress leaders have reportedly filed 25 petitions, including former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan who lost by over 39,000 votes from Karad South constituency.

Some of the losers from NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) have also challenged the results in court.

The petitioners have alleged misconduct in the polls, including EVM malfunctions, duplicate voting, concealed criminal cases, asset concealment, bribery and lack of election transparency.