Aditya Thackeray meets Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal; says need clarity on poll process
New Delhi, Feb 13 (PTI): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, days after their losses in the Delhi assembly polls, with a message to strengthen the fight for free and fair elections.
Aditya Thackeray on a whirlwind tour of the national capital also met the party's parliamentarians amid reports of dissent in the ranks and some leaders planning to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
He met Gandhi late on Wednesday and called on Kejriwal, the former Delhi chief minister, whose party faced defeat in last week's assembly elections on Thursday.
"Is there any difference between the BJP and the Election Commission (EC)?... I don't even know where my vote goes. There needs to be more clarity on EVMs (electronic voting machines) and VVPATs (voter-verifiable paper audit trail)," Aditya Thackeray said.
After calling on Kejriwal, Aditya Thackeray described the meeting as a gesture of friendship.
“It is clear in the heart of the Shiv Sena (UBT) Party that governments come and go, but our relationship will continue as it is. That is what we came here to convey, a gesture of friendship. The work that Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP have done for Delhi over the past 10 years is well known to the people of Delhi,” Thackeray said after the meeting.
He was accompanied by party MPs Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Sanjay Dina Patil and Bhausaheb Wakchaure among others.
Thackeray raised concern over "electoral irregularities" blaming the BJP and the Election Commission of India (ECI).
"In this election, the Election Commission played a significant role. The BJP had the blessings of the Election Commission, and the BJP should be grateful for that,” he said.
Meanwhile, senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, “It is commendable that, regardless of the election results, the foundation of our relationship remains strong. With this unity, we will move forward and work for the nation. Based on the public mandate and the irregularities in the elections, we are formulating our future strategy.”
Thackeray also accused the Election Commission (EC) of large-scale manipulation in voters' lists in multiple states, including Maharashtra, Haryana, Odisha and Delhi.
“We are raising the issue of how Maharashtra’s voter count suddenly increased by 47 lakhs. Who cast the 76 lakh votes after the final deadline? The Election Commission is completely unwilling to discuss this. This pattern has been in elections across Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Delhi, and Maharashtra. This is proof that free and fair elections no longer exist in our country,” he said.
Former Maharashtra deputy chief minister further claimed that the EC has snatched people's right to vote and emphasised that free and fair elections were "necessary for the country."
The Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP) had alleged irregularities in the conduct of last year's Maharashtra Assembly elections, claiming that there were more registered voters in the state than its total adult population.
The three parties, which formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) grouping, claimed 39 lakh new voters were added between the Lok Sabha elections in May and the November assembly polls.
"We believe we are in a democracy but perhaps we are robbed of democracy. It is a pretentious democracy," Aditya Thackeray said, adding that the opposition parties should rally together on the issues of "voter and EVM fraud".
Aditya Thackeray's meeting with Gandhi also came against the backdrop of rumblings within the MVA after NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar felicitated Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Shinde, who had toppled the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government.
In 2022, Shinde walked away with the majority of legislators of the then-undivided Shiv Sena to topple the MVA government.
Shinde became the chief minister with support from the BJP and subsequently gained control of the Shiv Sena.
The Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won the November assembly election, dealing a body blow to the MVA, which was hoping for an encore after virtually sweeping the state in the Lok Sabha polls.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena has dubbed Shinde a "traitor" and was shocked to see Sharad Pawar felicitate him with the Mahadji Shinde Rashtra Gaurav Puraskar instituted by Pune-based NGO Sarhad.
Aditya Thackeray also held a meeting of Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs amid reports of dissent in the party ranks and some leaders trying to join the Shiv Sena or the BJP.
BIG BREAKING
— Ravinder Kapur. (@RavinderKapur2) February 13, 2025
United INDIA alliance will raise voter list and EVM fraud by the BJP on a large scale.
" What happened with us and Congress in Haryana Maharashtra and Delhi, could happen with Nitish Kumar, RJD and Chandrababu Naidu in in future."
Aditya Thackeray SS MP pic.twitter.com/oeEoQeqzpu
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
