Mumbai: As vote counting neared its conclusion in Maharashtra’s Anushakti Nagar constituency, Fahad Ahmed, the candidate representing Sharad Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), found himself trailing behind Ajit Pawar-backed NCP nominee Sana Malik by a margin of over 3,000 votes. The shift came after Ahmed had led for several rounds earlier in the day.
Reacting to the development, actor Swara Bhasker, Ahmed’s wife, raised questions about the functioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs). In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Bhasker pointed out that her husband had been leading until EVMs showing a 99% charge were opened, prompting her to direct her concerns to the Election Commission.
“In Anushakti Nagar vidhaan sabha after a steady lead by Fahad Zirar Ahmad of NCP-SP… round 17, 18, 19 suddenly 99% battery charger EVMs are opened and BJP supported NCP-Ajit Pawar candidate takes lead,” she said.
“How can machines that have been voted on ALL day long have 99% charged batteries? Why do all 99% charged batteries give votes to BJP and its allies?” Bhasker asked, tagging the Election Commission and top leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.
Fahad Ahmed plans to raise concerns with EC
Fahad Ahmed took to X, saying that he had been in the lead until round 17 of the vote count and expressed his intention to address his concerns with the Election Commission over the issue. Ahmed is contesting against Sana Malik, the daughter of veteran leader and former Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik.
In the broader political landscape, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has secured a commanding lead in Maharashtra, holding 225 of the 288 seats in the state assembly. Meanwhile, the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which had won 30 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats just a month ago, is significantly trailing with only 56 seats in the state election. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP, which fielded candidates in 87 constituencies, is leading in 13 seats.
