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 actions of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 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. Raut criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in Madhya Pradesh last week in which he had promised the people that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remained in power, he would fight for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Will organize tours organized by the government. 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, Enforcement Directorate Like (ED), the Election Commission would also be standing at the door with a ‘warrant’. Raut said it is shocking to get votes by ‘bribing’ voters and the Election Commission has closed its eyes, which is harmful for democracy. The consecration of the statue is to take place on January 22 in the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
TN Seshan had shown the power of Election Commission
Raut said that (former Chief Election Commissioner) TN 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 that 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.
Bal Thackeray’s right to vote was snatched away
Sanjay 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 that they (BJP) usurped the Election Commission and other constitutional bodies and fought the battle of Hindutva.
Election Commission accused of adopting double standards
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 BJP.