Maharashtra AAP accuses Munde, Pawar of election malpractice

The Maharashtra unit of the Aam Aadmi Party has filed two separate complaints with the Election Commission seeking de-recognition of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and disqualification of BJP leader Gopinath Munde.

The move comes a day after NCP chief Sharad Pawar asked Mathadi workers (head-loaders) at a meeting in Navi Mumbai to vote twice - once in Satara and then in Mumbai. He also reminded them to erase the ink from their finger to vote for the second time. Later Sunday evening, he downplayed the controversy saying that his statement was purely ‘humour’.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Gopinath Munde’s estranged nephew, Dhananjay, now an NCP leader and Member of the Legislative Council, alleged that he was asked to arrange for one lakh bogus votes for the senior Munde during the 2009 Lok Sabha election.

“Such brazen calls to indulge in corrupting our democratic processes must not go unpunished. We have filed two separate complaints demanding action against Pawar and Munde for not only violating the code of  conduct but also violating the Indian Constitution,” Preeti Sharma Menon, state secretary of Maharashtra unit of AAP told Firstpost.

She added that AAP polling booth volunteers will keep a vigil this time in every single polling booth in the state and report any such cases to the EC. “We have also demanded that the EC should take action against Dhananjay Munde for helping his uncle in bogus voting,” she added.

Meanwhile, Kirit Somaiya, the BJP candidate from Mumbai North East constituency, also filed a complaint against the NCP chief with the Election Commission demanding action under the People’s Representation Act and for criminal conspiracy under  sections 102 B and 171 of Indian Penal Code. “Pawar should be removed from the post of minister,” said Somaiya.

However, the officials from the Chief Electoral Office in Maharashtra said that they has sought a report from the Thane district collector and a CD of the event from the police.