Mumbai: MPCC president Nana Patole and Malshiras legislator Uttam Jankar on Tuesday offered to resign to press for their demand for holding elections only through ballot papers.
“We are prepared to resign from the legislative assembly if the ECI agrees to hold elections using ballot papers. The results of the assembly elections shocked not only political parties and candidates, but the common man too,” Patole said.
Patole was in Markadwadi village in Solapur district to meet the agitating villagers, who are pressing for their demand for elections through ballot papers. Markadwadi is part of the Malshiras assembly constituency, represented by Uttam Jankar of Sharad Pawar-led NCP. “I will resign to press for the demand of ballot paper elections. I have the right to know where I cast the vote; it is my constitutional right. That is possible only when elections are held by ballot papers,” Jankar said. Jankar has written a letter to the ECI on his demand for ballot paper elections. He is the first elected representative in the state to demand ballot paper elections.
Patole said the Congress will launch a movement like Bharat Jodo to press for the demand for holding elections through ballot papers. “The entire Congress party is with the villagers, who are on indefinite strike to press their demand for ballot paper elections,” Patole said.
Patole said the villagers of Markadwadi have given a direction to the people of not only Maharashtra, but the entire country. “If the elections are held on ballot papers, then the voter will know which party has cast his vote, which is not possible if the voting takes place through EVMs,” Patole said.
Patole said following the surprising results, doubts have been expressed over the authenticity and credibility of EVMs. As per the ECI statement, till 5 pm, the polling percentage stood at 58.33, while at 11.30 pm, it stood at 65.2, while on Nov 21, at 3 pm, it stood at 66.05. As a result, an additional 76 lakh votes were polled. “We have asked the ECI to produce CCTV footage of massive rush at certain polling booths. We have written to ECI, but so far there is no response,” Patole said.
Stating that the agitation launched by Markadwadi villages has become a national movement, Patole said that it was wrong to suppress the agitation. Instead, the district administration should have given permission for mock elections by using ballot papers, he said.