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The former Maharashtra chief minister also demanded that all elections in the country should be held on ballot papers only
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray (Image: PTI)
After the INDIA bloc put up a surprise performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the alliance, comprising over two dozen parties, has been in the wilderness and hasn’t held a single meeting since last year.
Time and time again, leaders of this bloc raised the issue of inaction of the alliance formed months before the general election to take on the BJP’s juggernaut. With elections in Bihar and Mumbai civic body polls near, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray has made a renewed push to galvanise the bloc and start talks.
“After the Lok Sabha elections, there has been no meeting of the Bharat Alliance, and I want the meeting to be called as soon as possible because Bihar elections are coming closer, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election 2025 will also be held,” he said.
The former Maharashtra chief minister also demanded that all elections in the country should be held on ballot papers only.
“Every election should be conducted through the ballot paper only. When countries like Britain conduct elections through ballot papers, why are we emphasising the use of EVMs in India? This change is necessary for the transparency of democracy,” he added.
Thackeray’s new remark shows a change in his party’s stance since last week Sanjay Raut had dismissed the necessity of political alliances like the INDIA or MVA in the upcoming local and civic body elections in the state.
“I was asked what is the status of INDIA bloc? I said that it was formed for the Lok Sabha polls and Maha Vikas Aghadi was for Assembly elections. There is no need of these two in local bodies elections. Local bodies elections are fought over local issues,” he had said.
Elections in Maharashtra civic bodies, including the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), are likely to be held later this year. The Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena, which split in 2022, had controlled the BMC for nearly two decades.
(With inputs from agencies)
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
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