Calling for thorough probe into Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of ‘vote theft’ in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday made a startling claim, saying two people met him in Delhi and offered gauranteed victory in 160 seats before the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024.
Interacting with media persons in Nagpur, Pawar said, “I remember how before the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections were announced, two people came to meet me in Delhi. They told me that there are 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra, out of which they could guarantee my party a victory in 160 seats.”
Pawar said that he even introduced them to Rahul Gandhi but the latter and he himself decided to go to the people in a usual way.
“…I ignored those people but I got them to meet Rahul Gandhi. They spoke to Rahul Gandhi. However, Rahul Gandhi and I were of the opinion that this is not our path. So we decided that we will go to the people in the usual way,” the NCP-SCP founder and chief said.
Pawar also backed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, calling for a thorough investigation. “There is a need to go deeper into allegations made by Rahul Gandhi and to investigate the entire matter so that the truth is revealed.”
He also slammed the BJP for its remarks on Rahul Gandhi following his “vote theft” allegations, asking what was the need for the ruling party leaders to speak on it when the matter he raised was related to the Election Commission of India.
“All I am saying is that when a matter regarding the Election Commission was raised, what is the need for BJP leaders or the Chief Minister to answer it? We want an answer from the Election Commission and not from the BJP,” Sharad Pawar said.
He also asserted that the response of the poll panel, asking Rahul Gandhi to submit a signed declaration and oath on his allegations was not right.
“Rahul Gandhi worked hard to provide information about irregularities in the voting process but the Election Commission said that he should file an affidavit before it. The Election Commission is an autonomous body. Rahul Gandhi said that he has taken oath in Parliament, and so there is no need for a separate affidavit. If the Election Commission insists on such a thing, then it is not right,” he added.