Sat Nov 23 11:35:26 UTC 2024: ## Actress Swara Bhasker’s Husband Loses Maharashtra Election, Alleges EVM Tampering
**Mumbai, November 23, 2024** – Fahad Ahmad, husband of actress Swara Bhasker, lost the Anushakti Nagar Assembly seat in the Maharashtra elections. Ahmad, who contested on the NCP (Sharad Pawar) ticket, was defeated by Sana Malik, daughter of NCP (Ajit Pawar) leader Nawab Malik, by a margin of 3378 votes.
Following the loss, Bhasker took to social media, questioning the integrity of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). She pointed out that despite a full day of voting, the EVMs showed a 99% charge just as the BJP-backed NCP (Ajit Pawar) candidate began to pull ahead. Bhasker demanded an explanation from the Election Commission.
The Anushakti Nagar constituency, considered a stronghold of Nawab Malik (who was previously imprisoned on money laundering charges and later joined the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP), saw a closely fought contest. Initially, Ahmad held a lead, but Malik’s daughter overtook him in the final rounds of counting.
The election campaign itself was marked by controversy. Ahmad accused Sana Malik of nepotism, stating her father’s political influence was the sole reason for her nomination. Malik countered, suggesting that being a politician’s daughter was preferable to being an actress’s husband. Ahmad previously contested as a Samajwadi Party candidate before switching to NCP (Sharad Pawar).
The high voter turnout of over 54% in Anushakti Nagar, although slightly lower than the 55.27% recorded in 2019, further fueled Bhasker’s allegations of EVM manipulation. The Election Commission has yet to respond to her claims.
First Piper 