States » WestPosted at: Oct 4 2026 10:08PM


Maha: Minister Shelar attacks Opposition over rally against EVMs, Election Commission & SIR

Mumbai, Oct 4 (UNI): Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar today criticised the Opposition for questioning the Election Commission, Electronic Voting Machines and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that its stand was inconsistent.
Addressing a press conference after the Opposition rally, he argued that parties accepted EVMs and the election process when they won elections but began raising questions about them after losing.
Referring to recent elections, Shelar said the BJP-led NDA had won in some states while non-BJP parties formed governments in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, arguing that this did not support allegations of bias against the Election Commission.
On EVMs, the BJP leader questioned the criticism by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, pointing out that elections in which their parties had won were also conducted using EVMs.
He said the decision to introduce EVMs was taken during the Congress-led period and questioned why the Opposition was raising objections now when the BJP was winning elections.
On SIR, Shelar said the exercise would help verify and strengthen electoral rolls. He claimed that mapping of around 90 per cent of voters had been completed and urged Opposition parties not to create confusion among voters.
Referring to earlier statements by Raj Thackeray and other Opposition leaders seeking action against duplicate and allegedly bogus voters, he asked why they were opposing the verification of electoral rolls now.
Shelar added political parties should accept the verdict of voters instead of blaming the Election Commission and the electoral process for their defeats. UNI SP SS
Tags: #Maha: Minister Shelar attacks Opposition over rally against EVMs# Election Commission & SIR
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