Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 20 (ANI): Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane on Monday dismissed Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's allegations against the Election Commission and said that he is 'surprised' that Thackeray didn't raise these questions after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, where the Maha Vikas Aghadi performed better than the Mahayuti alliance.

This comes after Raj Thackeray claimed that 9.6 million fake voters have been added ahead of the Mumbai civic body polls.

Speaking to the media, Nitesh Rane said, 'I am surprised that Raj Thackeray did not raise these questions after the Lok Sabha elections. When Congress, INDI Alliance and MVA leaders are elected, these people do not raise any issues with the EC. After Lok Sabha polls they gave slogans supporting Pakistan and Hindu community voted against them in Vidhan Sabha polls.'

'They did not say anything after 'vote jihad', but if the Hindu community comes together and votes unitedly, they get upset. If you want to inquire, go to Null Bazar, Malegaon, Bhiwandi and ask if only the residents cast their vote. How 30-40 Rohingyas and Bangladeshi Muslims live in each house there? Everyone staying in those colonies are they local voters? They want to check voting list only in Hindu houses. If you are questioning just Hindus, you are speaking Muslim League's language,' he added.

Earlier, the MNS Chief asked the Election Commission not to hold elections in Maharashtra until the issue of fake voters is cleaned up.

Addressing party workers ahead of local body elections on Sunday, MNS chief said, 'Reliable information has just been received that 9.6 million fake voters have been added. This is an insult to the voters of Maharashtra and the country. All the group presidents (group presidents), branch presidents, and election list heads should go door to door and count the votes. I'm asking the Election Commission not to hold elections in Maharashtra until this is clean.'

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday expressed support for Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.

Addressing the issue in the press conference held today in Mumbai, Raut clarified the party's position, saying, 'We have never said that we will not contest the BMC election. We only said that first, the voter list should be corrected. According to Raj Thackeray, 9.6 million voters are bogus in the list.'

Raut further announced a protest action, stating, 'On November 1, all Opposition parties will participate in a long march against the bogus voters in the list.'

Furthermore, Raut on Sunday announced plans for a meeting with election officials in Maharashtra, led by party chief Uddhav Thackeray, to address concerns over discrepancies in the voter list.

Raut stated that Thackeray, along with other party leaders, including Raj Thackeray of MNS and Sharad Pawar of NCP-SCP, will meet officials to discuss voter list discrepancies. (ANI)