Fresh infighting in Mahayuti as BJP leaders accuse minister Sattar of facilitating fake voters

Minorities development minister and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader, Abdul Sattar, is facing allegations of facilitating bogus registration of voters for electoral benefit. Leaders of alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have lodged a complaint against the minister

MUMBAI: Minorities development minister and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader, Abdul Sattar, is facing allegations of facilitating bogus registration of voters for electoral benefit. Leaders of alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have lodged a complaint against the minister claiming that 50,000 voters in his constituency are enrolled twice and they are either his workers, relatives, or employees of institutions managed by him.

Minorities development minister and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader, Abdul Sattar (HT Photo)

Idris Multani, head of the state minority cell of BJP and Suresh Bankar, secretary, state BJP, have made a complaint to collector of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in this regard. “We have submitted multiple proofs of similar names, photos, and age of voters within Sillod (Sattar’s constituency) and adjoining constituencies like Bhokardan, Kannad, etc. In Sillod, 28,000 voters are repeated. They are registered under different residential addresses,” said Multani.

Bankar claimed that the minister ensures fake voting with the help of these voters. “We have been assured by the collector of action as the summary revision of electoral rolls is underway. If no action is taken, we will move court.”

Chhatrapati Sambjhaji Nagar collector, Deelip Swami, said that they have appealed to the people to come forward and apply for the deletion of such names. “Or else, we will register a case against such voters. In election year, the deletion is done very carefully by following the due process. We will do all it takes to ensure clean rolls,” he said.