NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday alleged “some people” had approached party supremo Uddhav Thackeray, first during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and then ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls, and promised to ensure victory on “tricky seats.”These individuals, he claimed, were the same two unnamed persons who had allegedly approached NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and “guaranteed” the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance’s victory in 160 of the 288 seats.“Sharad Pawar said some people met him before the (Maharashtra) polls. The same set of people also met Uddhav Thackeray during the Lok Sabha (polls). We told them we believe in democracy and will win the Lok Sabha elections for sure, looking at the atmosphere in the country,” Raut told the media, according to news agency PTI.“We told them that the opposition secured an overwhelming success (in Lok Sabha elections) and we will come to power in Vidhan Sabha (elections). They told us to assign them 60-65 difficult seats and promised victory through EVMs. However, Thackeray said we don’t feel the need to do it,” he added, speaking about the alleged second meeting.He further recalled being warned by the persons that “those in power” (BJP-led Mahayuti) had prepared a “plan” through EVMs and electoral rolls to secure win.The BJP won 132 seats in the assembly elections with allies Shiv Sena and NCP adding 57 and 41 constituencies, respectively, to the Mahayuti tally. On the other hand, the MVA won only 46 seats (Shiv Sena (UBT) 20, Congress 16, and NCP (SP) 10).Pawar on Saturday caused a flutter in political circles with his claim. He stated that he introduced the two individuals who had approached him to the Lok Sabha leader of the opposition and Congress MP, Rahul Gandhi.Gandhi on Thursday made explosive claims of a “huge criminal fraud” in polls through collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission, citing an analysis in a constituency in Congress-ruled Karnataka, and saying it was “a crime against the Constitution”.The following day, he alleged the Election Commission and the BJP colluded to “steal” the Lok Sabha election from the people, and there was “vote theft” in at least three states.Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has questioned the timing of Pawar’s claims, dismissing them as a “Salim-Javed script.”
