Pune: Prashant Jagtap Demands Recount and EVM Verification in Hadapsar Assembly Constituency, Pays Rs 12.74 Lakh Fees

Hadapsar, 30th November 2024: Following the success of the Mahayuti alliance in the Maharashtra State Assembly elections, doubts have emerged about the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), particularly in the Hadapsar Assembly Constituency. Prashant Jagtap, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate from the Sharad Pawar faction, who was defeated in the constituency, has raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of the voting process and has formally demanded a recount of votes.

Jagtap, in a press conference, questioned the functioning of the EVMs in the recent election, presenting evidence he believes suggests discrepancies in the voting process. As a result, he has requested the verification of both the EVM machines and the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) for the Hadapsar constituency. To proceed with the verification, Jagtap has deposited a fee of Rs 12,74,000 with the District Collector’s Office through a challan, initiating the process of a formal recount.

The doubts about the EVMs have been a point of contention across the state, and even beyond, with experts both in India and abroad speculating that technical malfunctions might have occurred. These concerns have led to widespread calls for a review of the voting machines used in the elections. Jagtap, who contested against sitting MLA Chetan Tupe of the Ajit Pawar group, voiced his dissatisfaction with the results, pointing out irregularities that he believes may have skewed the election outcome.

“We cannot stand by and let democracy be compromised. The theft of people’s votes must be stopped. This is not just about who becomes an MLA or who forms the government. This is a fight to protect our democracy,” Jagtap stated. He further emphasized that this battle for fair elections would continue both on the streets and through legal channels. “As a loyal worker of the Constitution, I believe in the judiciary and trust that justice will prevail,” Jagtap added.

The Hadapsar constituency witnessed a fierce battle between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar. In this highly contested race, former Pune Mayor Prashant Jagtap, representing the Sharad Pawar faction, was up against the incumbent MLA Chetan Tupe of the Ajit Pawar faction. Despite the concerns raised by Jagtap and his supporters, Chetan Tupe emerged victorious once again in this election.

As the recount process moves forward, it remains to be seen whether the results in Hadapsar will be revised or whether the doubts surrounding the EVMs will lead to broader scrutiny of the electoral process. Meanwhile, Jagtap’s call for action has sparked a wider debate about the transparency and security of electronic voting systems in Maharashtra.