Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday said that his party will seek legal recourse on the result of Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat, claiming that victory was snatched from their candidate by "misuse" of the official machinery. His remarks came while addressing a press conference in which he said that petition regarding the “electoral malpractice” will be filed in the court in a day or two.
He termed as "fraud" the result of the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat, where Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Amol Kirtikar lost by 48 votes to rival Ravindra Waikar of the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
"There is an ongoing debate on the election process and EVMs. I have already said Election Commission is an 'entirely compromised' commission," Thackeray said.
Thackeray claimed that if the election process was “free and fair”, the saffron party would have won only 40 Lok Sabha seats and not 240.
"Our victory was snatched by misusing the official machinery. We will file an election petition in court, challenging the result of the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat," he said.
ECI should take suo motu action: Thackeray
Thackeray also said his party expects the EC to take suo motu (on its own) action, otherwise they will fight a legal battle and win.
Notably, the Vanrai police in Mumbai have registered a case against Waikar's brother-in-law for allegedly using a mobile phone at a counting centre in Goregaon (which is part of Waikar's constituency) on June 4, when results of the general elections were announced.
Parab said a mobile phone was used in an unauthorised manner and there is a doubt that the seized phone may have been changed after 10 days.
"A probe is also needed into the constant phone calls to the returning officer of the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat. She would move away from her seat several times to talk on phone," he claimed.
(With PTI inputs)
