Eknath Shinde Cuts Off MLA Bhumare After He Claims 20,000 Outside Voters were Brought in for Assembly Polls

Controversy in Maharashtra politics: There was a stir in Maharashtra politics on Friday when Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's party, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), MLA Vilas Bhumre gave a controversial statement. He said in a public program that in the last assembly elections, about 20 thousand outside voters were brought to his constituency, due to which he got “100 percent benefit.”

Shinde interrupted and asked for clarification

Immediately after Bhumre's statement, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who was present on the stage, interrupted him and asked, "What do you mean?" On this, Bhumre clarified that he did not mention any illegal activity. According to him, “Those who are from our area but stay outside due to employment or work, we had called them back so that they can vote.”

Vilas Bhumre is the MLA from the Paithan seat

This entire matter is related to the Paithan assembly seat of Aurangabad (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) district. Bhumre is a Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA from this area and is considered close to Deputy Chief Minister Shinde. He has also previously been a minister in the Uddhav Thackeray government.

Opposition demanded for action from Election Commission

As soon as Bhumre's statement came out, opposition parties made it a big issue. Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena have demanded investigation and action from the Election Commission. The opposition says that this statement of the MLA shows that voters were called from outside during the elections, which is a violation of the electoral code of conduct and rules.

Bhumre gave clarification and said, "misinterpreted."

After the controversy escalated, Vilas Bhumre clarified that his statement had been distorted. "All I said was that people native to our area, who live outside for jobs or business, were called to vote. There is nothing illegal in it," he said.

Shinde said, "Transparency is our priority"

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also reacted to this matter. He said that there should not be any misunderstanding and the government is committed to maintaining complete transparency in the election process.

Discussion intensified in political circles

This entire controversy has created a new stir in the politics of Maharashtra. Political analysts say that before the upcoming elections, this statement has given the opposition a new opportunity to attack the government. Now all eyes are on whether the Election Commission will start a formal investigation into this matter or not.