Did you use 'vote-riggers', Fadnavis asks Sharad Pawar

NAGPUR: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis Sunday asked NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar whether he had used the services of "vote-riggers", a day after Pawar alleged that two unidentified persons had offered him and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi "guaranteed" victory in 160 out of 288 seats in the assembly polls last year.

"You (Pawar) are responsible citizens. If someone approaches you saying they can influence elections, why did you not file a complaint with police or Election Commission? Or did you use their services and are now speaking up?" Fadnavis said in Nagpur.

Pawar on Saturday alleged the duo first met him in Delhi, and later he arranged a meeting with Rahul Gandhi. Pawar claimed that both he and Rahul declined the offer as MVA wanted to contest "fairly."

Fadnavis said, "It is shocking that such elements are being introduced to each other. If someone is conspiring, if someone says they will commit fraud, your duty is to file a complaint. This is not just casual talk - it is about credibility."

The CM said the claims could not be brushed aside. "EC has repeatedly thrown open a challenge to political parties, engineers, and technocrats to try and hack EVMs, but no one has succeeded. If you believe there is fraud, take your evidence there. Instead, we hear these Salim-Javed-style stories," he remarked, referring to Rahul's earlier statements. Guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the opposition's claims were a case of "sour grapes."

"I want to challenge the opposition to find mistakes in the voter list now that local body polls are round the corner. They should examine the voter list now and come forward with any issues. But I know the opposition will keep quiet now, and then, after the results, they will start complaining," he said.