Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on BJP: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said the Election Commission of India has become a “caged parrot” and a sham and accused it of “turning a blind eye” to the BJP’s actions. In his weekly column ‘Rokhthok’ in Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, Raut accused the BJP of “bribing” voters after losing ground in the five states where assembly elections are being held (in November). Also accused of resorting to publicity.
What did Sanjay Raut say?
Raut criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in Madhya Pradesh last week in which he had promised the people that if the BJP remains in power, it will organize government-organized yatras to the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Raut said that this was clearly propaganda on religious grounds. The Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member alleged that if such a statement had been made by a Congress leader, the Election Commission, like the Enforcement Directorate, would have been standing at the door with a “warrant”.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP made these allegations
Raut said it is shocking to “bribe” voters to get votes and the Election Commission has turned a blind eye, which is harmful for democracy. The consecration of the statue is to take place on January 22 in the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Raut said, “(Former Chief Election Commissioner) T.N. Seshan showed during his tenure that the Election Commission does not even have to roar, it just has to wag its tail and this will create fear in all political parties. The Election Commission has become a sham.” Raut alleged, “Whatever happened (during the election campaign in five states, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram) has proved that the Election Commission has become a caged parrot.”
Accused of adopting “double standards”
Raut said that when Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray sought votes for party candidate Ramesh Prabhu on the issue of Hindutva in the 1987 Vile Parle by-election, his voting rights were canceled for six years. Shiv Sena MLAs Suryakant Mahadik, Ramakant Maykar and Prabhu, who won the by-election, were disqualified. Raut alleged, “They (BJP) usurped the Election Commission and other constitutional bodies and fought the battle of Hindutva.” Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday wrote to the Election Commission over Shah’s promise to visit Ram Temple and sarcastically asked whether the Commission had relaxed the Model Code of Conduct. In the letter, Shiv Sena (UBT) accused the commission of adopting “double standards” in favor of the BJP.
Also read: Maharashtra Politics: ‘Mumbai was the Mecca of cricket, because of BJP’s politics…’, a big allegation of Uddhav faction MP Sanjay Raut.
