The counting for Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra was delayed on Friday evening after the Bharatiya Janata Party raised objections to the votes cast by three MLAs of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), alleging violation of rules.
The counting has been held up, a state legislature official said.
"Cabinet ministers Jitendra Awhad (Nationalist Congress Party), Yashomati Thakur (Congress) and Sena legislator Suhas Kande violated the model code for voting. We have filed an appeal before the Election Commission of India, seeking that their votes be held invalid," said a state BJP leader.
The BJP alleged that Awhad and Thakur handed over their ballots to their party agents instead of only showing them the ballots, while Kande showed his ballot to two different agents.
"Permission is needed from the election commission for the counting. Officials have sent an email to the ECI seeking the permission. It should be granted in some time," said Sena minister Eknath Shinde.
"Counting can not be started until the ECI gives its decision because winning quota can not be determined till the number of valid votes is finalised," said a constitutional expert.
The MVA also raised objections to a vote from the BJP.
PWD minister Ashok Chavan said Congress's polling agent Amar Rajurkar objected to the vote cast by Sudhir Mungantiwar (BJP) as he handed his ballot paper to Ashish Shelar, the BJP polling agent.
Earlier, all 285 MLAs who were eligible for voting exercised their franchise for Rajya Sabha election for six seats in Maharashtra by 3.30 pm on Friday.
The crucial, neck-to-neck contest was necessitated as the BJP fielded three candidates while Shiv Sena put up two and Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party one each.
Thus, there were seven candidates in the fray against six vacancies.
The BJP fielded Union Commerce minister Piyush Goyal, former state minister Anil Bonde and former MP Dhananjay Mahadik.
The Sena fielded Sanjay Raut and Sanjay Pawar. The NCP fielded Praful Patel while Congress fielded Imran Pratapgarhi.
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