Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray led a significant protest on Saturday, announcing that members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance would be boycotting the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected Maharashtra assembly. This protest was a direct response to what Thackeray called the "misuse" of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the recent state assembly elections. In his statement, Thackeray emphasized that the decision was an expression of discontent against what the MVA perceived as an attack on the democratic process. He stated, "We boycotted the oath-taking ceremony today as democracy is being murdered by the use of EVMs. This (the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections) is not the mandate of the public, it is the mandate of EVM and the Election Commission of India."
Thackeray’s comments have sparked considerable debate, especially since the MVA alliance has faced a significant defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. His accusation of EVM tampering suggests deep-seated frustration over the outcome of the polls, which saw the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and other allies, emerge victorious with 230 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly. The MVA alliance, which includes the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP, had been hoping for a better result. The alliance has repeatedly alleged that the manipulation of the EVMs has undermined the people's will, accusing the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance of "stealing the mandate."
Chhagan Bhujbal, a prominent leader from the NCP, responded to Thackeray’s boycott by defending the electoral process and rejecting the opposition’s accusations. Bhujbal argued that the opposition could not skip the oath-taking process if they wanted to participate in the legislative business. He emphasized that every MLA had a constitutional obligation to take the oath and participate in the formal functions of the assembly, saying, "If they want to participate in the business of the House, they will have to take oath."
Despite the boycott, the Maharashtra Assembly session proceeded as planned. The three-day session kicked off with the swearing-in of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, who took their oaths as members of the assembly. Pro-tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar administered the oaths shortly after the House convened at 11 a.m. Over the course of the session, the remaining 287 newly elected legislators will take their oaths, and the election of the Speaker is scheduled for Monday, marking the conclusion of the special proceedings.
The context of this boycott stems from the dramatic results of the November 20 assembly elections, which saw the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance emerge victorious with 230 seats, decisively securing control of the Maharashtra legislature. After over a week of complex negotiations, Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Chief Minister for his third term, with Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar appointed as deputy chief ministers.
Interestingly, the opposition alliance, the MVA, also chose to boycott the grand swearing-in ceremony, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, and several leaders from NDA partner parties. This marked a clear rejection of the legitimacy of the newly formed government by the opposition, with the MVA leaders asserting that the election results were manipulated.
Since the election results were announced, there has been a wave of protests from MVA members, accusing the Election Commission and the BJP of rigging the electoral process through the misuse of EVMs. Several candidates who lost the election have raised concerns about the fairness of the election, suggesting that the BJP-led alliance resorted to manipulative tactics to secure a win. These accusations have created a rift between the MVA and the ruling Mahayuti alliance, intensifying political polarization in the state.
As the new assembly session unfolds, the MVA’s decision to stay away from the proceedings remains a highly visible sign of their protest against the use of EVMs. However, the question remains whether the opposition’s protest will gain traction among the electorate and lawmakers or whether the ruling alliance will continue to proceed unhindered in the legislative process. The MVA has indicated that it will explore all possible avenues to challenge the election results, including seeking a review of the electoral process and calling for greater transparency in future elections.
The ongoing political drama is set to continue shaping Maharashtra’s legislative landscape, with the opposition preparing to take their protests to the streets, while the ruling alliance seems intent on solidifying its hold over the state government. As this political tug-of-war progresses, the fate of the assembly’s business and the stability of the newly formed government will likely depend on how the ongoing tensions between the two sides evolve.
