Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has announced that his party will soon conduct a significant "expose" targeting alleged irregularities within the Election Commission (EC) during the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. Speaking in Mumbai, Thackeray drew parallels to recent accusations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi against the poll body, promising to reveal critical flaws in the Election Commission's conduct. He likened the forthcoming disclosure to a “Rahul Gandhi-like expose”.
Thackeray's announcement follows a series of criticisms by Rahul Gandhi, who has alleged significant lapses within the Election Commission. Gandhi has pointed to issues such as voter name deletions in Karnataka and inflated voter turnout figures in Maharashtra. In a bold claim, Gandhi stated he has yet to reveal the “hydrogen bomb,” alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was involved in “vote theft” to secure victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Aaditya Thackeray's promised exposé signals an escalating confrontation with the Election Commission, particularly with the Mumbai civic polls approaching. He indicated that his party's exposé, inspired by Gandhi's approach, would shed light on alleged manipulations in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, aiming to hold the poll body accountable and ensure transparency in future electoral processes. When pressed further on the timing of the expose, Aaditya said, "We can't reveal the timings of the surgical strikes".
Thackeray stated that his party had already written to the EC ahead of last year's polls, raising concerns over a sudden rise in voter numbers, missing voters, and booth mismanagement. He also promised to release a Rahul Gandhi-style expose on the poll body soon. This statement underscores ongoing grievances about the management of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Furthermore, Thackeray alleged that the Narendra Modi government introduced an amended act in 2023 to appoint Election Commissioners, a move he claimed heavily favored the Central government and compromised the impartiality of the poll body. Rahul Gandhi has also claimed that the BJP deployed a detailed five-step process to derail the Maharashtra Assembly elections and results. In his op-ed, he claimed that the Narendra Modi government brought in the amended act to appoint Election Commissioners in 2023 to heavily favour the Centre.
Aaditya Thackeray supported Rahul Gandhi's claims of vote theft, alleging the Election Commission operates through the BJP. Thackeray told the media that vote theft has indeed happened across the country, and that EC is operated through the BJP office. He urged the Election Commission to engage in an open debate with Gandhi instead of issuing rebuttals.
