"Fake voters' names" should be deleted before holding Maharashtra local body polls: SP's Abu Azmi backs MNS Chief's allegation

"I welcome the statement of MNS chief Raj Thackeray...Those leaders whose vote bank exceeded the number of one lakh have lost the elections here. Many big leaders of the opposition lost the elections, and the BJP won," Azmi said.

"There is some discrepancy...The elections should be held after the names of fake voters are deleted," he added.

Earlier, Raj Thackeray criticised the Election Commission ahead of the local body elections and claimed that 9.6 million fake voters had been added.

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 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."

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC on Monday asserted that the MNS party should focus on the policies of the government.

Speaking to ANI on the matter, Shaina NC said, "When Raj Thackeray alleges that there are 96 lakh fake voters, our question is that if they have proof, why haven't they gone to the Election Commission? As a responsible political party, they should consider what the government's policy is... The Election Commission's responsibility is to ensure that as many people as possible come out and vote, and that those who are genuine voters. They (Raj Thackeray) keep promoting such false narratives and rumours because their win and loss depend on this." (ANI)