Chaotic Maharashtra Civic Elections Raise Alarm Over Democratic Process

AIMIM's Waris Pathan and other opposition leaders have slammed the chaotic handling of the Maharashtra civic elections, citing voter list issues and EVM malfunctions. Criticisms include allegations of democratic failures, voter intimidation, and calls for protests against alleged electoral malpractice and the One Nation One Election proposal.

Maharashtra's civic body elections have descended into turmoil, sparking fierce criticisms from AIMIM National Spokesperson Waris Pathan. On Thursday, he lambasted election authorities and the state government for what he dubbed a grave failure in democratic governance, pointing out widespread chaos and mismanagement at polling stations across Mumbai.

Pathan described a scene fraught with voter list discrepancies and confusion that particularly affected women, senior citizens, and first-time voters. His call for accountability resonated as he criticized both the Maharashtra Government and the Election Commission, citing his own daughter's exclusion from the voter list as evidence of systemic failings.

Joining the chorus of dissent, former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray echoed Pathan's concerns, raising alarms over potential electoral manipulation. Thackeray highlighted issues such as outdated EVMs and removable election ink, demanding a thorough investigation into these irregularities. Opposition leaders now urge citizens to protest, denouncing a perceived 'murder of democracy.'

(With inputs from agencies.)