BJP Alleges Shiv Sena's Thackeray Violated Election Code

On May 20, the BJP accused Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray of violating the election code during a press conference, alleging that delays in polling were orchestrated by the Election Commission under Modi's influence. BJP's Ashish Shelar termed Thackeray's claims as misleading and defamatory.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday wrote to the Election Commission of India alleging that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray violated the model code of conduct by holding a press conference here even as voting for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections was underway in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra.

Thackeray spoke to reporters about 5 pm, alleging that the polling process was facing delays at several places in Mumbai and the Election Commission was doing this deliberately at the behest of the Narendra Modi government. Voting was slow especially in the areas where the opposition was strong, he claimed.

Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar stated in his letter to the ECI that Thackeray's press conference was in violation of the model code of conduct as voting was taking place all over Mumbai when he spoke. Thackeray made baseless allegations against Modi and tried to mislead the electorate into believing that the government or the ruling party was influencing the ECI, Shelar said. ''Such statements are blatantly false, mischievous and defamatory in nature,'' he added.