Sun Dec 08 10:02:52 UTC 2024: ## Maharashtra Deputy CM Rejects Opposition EVM Claims After Landslide Victory

**Mumbai, December 8, 2024** – Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday accused the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of spreading misinformation about electronic voting machines (EVMs) following the Mahayuti alliance’s resounding victory in the November 2024 Assembly elections. The Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, secured 230 out of 288 seats, while the MVA, consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), won only 46.

Shinde dismissed the opposition’s allegations of EVM irregularities, stating that the Mahayuti’s win reflects the people’s mandate and their approval of the government’s work. He pointed to discrepancies between vote share and seat count in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, arguing that if EVMs were manipulated, similar discrepancies should be evident in all elections. He cited the MVA’s wins in Jharkhand Assembly elections and recent bypolls as further evidence against their claims.

“When you win, there’s no EVM scam, but the machine becomes bad when you lose. This is not the right approach,” Shinde said, urging the opposition to accept their defeat and support development initiatives. He also questioned the opposition’s participation in the swearing-in ceremony after boycotting it to protest the alleged EVM irregularities.

Shinde’s comments follow NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar’s observation about the surprising disparity between vote share and seat allocation in the Assembly elections. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded on X, urging Pawar to accept defeat and engage in introspection. The Deputy Chief Minister further assured that the government will function within constitutional boundaries, addressing concerns about a Waqf Board notice to farmers in Latur.

Read More