Mumbai: Accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of vote-chori and match-fixing, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday alleged that BJP would have lost 60 assembly seats in Maharashtra without its help.He further said that Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray’s MNS will back the Cockroach Janta Party’s protests against ECI on Oct 2 and they would also hold their own protests on Oct 4. “We will ensure (Chief Election Commissioner) Gyanesh Kumar out is thrown out,” said Raut.“There is match-fixing in the Election Commission, vote theft in the Election Commission. The entire election is stolen. The Election Commission was used as a weapon…,” Raut alleged. “If match-fixing had not happened, then the nearly 60 seats that BJP lost in 2024 would not have turned into a victory.”“In Mumbai, Amol Kirtikar had won the seat by a narrow margin. But there was a call from above and the verdict was changed. Thanks to the ECI and its weapon Gyanesh Kumar,” he further claimed. “Such decisions were taken in 60 seats.”However, it is pertinent to note that Kumar assumed charge as the Chief Election Commissioner in Feb 2025, while Maharashtra assembly polls were held in Nov 2024.Raut further said the ECI had made some changes now, out of fear. “Gyanesh Kumar is scared in the face of public pressure.”Raut also said that Shiv Sena (UBT) supports Trinamool Congress Party chief Mamata Banerjee who had faced the brunt of ECI’s unfairness. “The ECI contributed to her party’s defeat in West Bengal,” alleged Raut.
