A special three-day session of the Maharashtra Assembly began on Saturday, primarily to administer oaths to newly elected MLAs, with the Speaker election scheduled for Monday. However, opposition parties boycotted the first day’s proceedings in protest over alleged manipulation of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The opposition, including Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), abstained from taking their oaths after BJP MLA Chainsukh Sancheti was among the first legislators to swear the oath of secrecy. The parties raised concerns over the integrity of the recent assembly elections, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav claiming that the “Mahayuti” coalition’s landslide victory, securing 235 out of 288 seats, was not a true reflection of the people’s mandate, but rather the result of alleged EVM manipulation.
After the opening session, opposition members gathered outside the Assembly to honor Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at his statue on the Vidhan Bhavan grounds. Congress state president Nana Patole, representing Sakoli, also chose to exit the house without taking the oath, further highlighting the ongoing discontent.
Jadhav clarified their stance, stating, “We are not opposed to the oath of secrecy, but we are boycotting today’s proceedings as a protest against the use of EVMs in the elections.” The opposition’s boycott and the protest underscore the tension surrounding the legitimacy of the election results, setting the stage for a politically charged session.
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