Top leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) met officials of the Maharashtra Election Commission on Tuesday, demanding greater transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The meeting came in the backdrop of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for alleged “vote chori,” and ahead of the crucial municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra.
The MVA delegation, comprising senior leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress, submitted a detailed letter to the Election Commission highlighting alleged irregularities and loopholes in the voter registration system and poll preparations.
The meeting also grabbed attention for the presence of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who had extended unconditional support to the BJP in 2024. This was the first time he appeared alongside MVA leaders, signaling a potential realignment in Maharashtra’s political landscape. Ahead of the upcoming BMC elections, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray have also been seen together after nearly two decades, with several recent meetings fueling political speculation.
Key Demands Raised by MVA-
In its memorandum, the MVA raised several issues and made specific demands to ensure transparency in the election process. The MVA questioned why the details of voters whose names were deleted during the 2024 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections were not made public. The delegation demanded that the Election Commission upload the full list of deleted names and reasons for their removal on its website, terming it a fundamental right of every voter.
While the voter list for the 2024 Assembly elections was published on October 30, 2024, the MVA pointed out that names added between October 2024 and July 2025 have not been released yet. The alliance alleged that the delay raises suspicion of political motives and demanded immediate publication of the updated roll.
The delegation objected to the Commission’s decision to hold upcoming local body elections based on the July 1, 2025 voter list. They argued that citizens who turn 18 after that date should not be denied their right to vote and must be included until the election notification is issued.
Citing large-scale migration to cities like Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, and Nashik, the MVA alleged that many voters are registered both in Maharashtra and their native states. The leaders stressed that dual registration and voting constitute a legal offense and asked the Election Commission to adopt a “de-duplication” process similar to that used in Bihar to remove duplicate entries.
The MVA questioned the Election Commission’s decision not to use VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines in municipal elections, citing a shortage of compatible EVMs. “The local body elections were supposed to be held in 2022 but are now scheduled for 2026. What preparations have been made in the last four years?” the MVA asked.
The alliance demanded clarity on the whereabouts of VVPAT machines purchased at huge public expense, stressing that public faith in EVMs can only be restored through VVPAT verification.
The MVA slammed the “prabhag” (ward) system, calling it confusing and unnecessary. The leaders said the system forces voters to cast multiple votes and leads to disputes among corporators. They argued that if VVPAT cannot be used in ward-based polls, the system itself should be scrapped. In Mumbai, where the ward system does not apply, the MVA demanded that civic polls be conducted using ballot papers if VVPAT-enabled EVMs are unavailable.
The MVA further stated that growing doubts about the Election Commission’s neutrality must be addressed immediately. “If the Election Commission itself does not demonstrate independence, who will?” the delegation asked, urging the body to act free from political pressure and implement their recommendations without bias.
Following the meeting, the MVA postponed its scheduled press conference. The delegation is expected to meet the Chief Election Commissioner again tomorrow and hold a press briefing after receiving official responses to their questions.
