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The newly-elected MLAs of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance staged a walkout during the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly's oath-taking ceremony today, alleging the ruling Mahayuti coalition's victory was engineered through manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). However, defying the call from Opposition leaders, Samajwadi Party state president Abu Asim Azmi and party leader Rais Shaikh took part in the oath-taking ceremony.
The move comes amid a special three-day session of the newly constituted 288-member Maharashtra legislative assembly, which began today. The session, overseen by pro-tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar, includes the oath administration for MLAs, the election of the assembly Speaker, a trust vote for the new government, and an address by the Governor. Mr Kolambkar, a senior BJP MLA, was appointed pro-tem Speaker by Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Friday.
MVA leaders gathered near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue at the Maharashtra Assembly to explain their stance.
"We boycotted the oath-taking ceremony today as democracy is being murdered by the use of EVMs. This (the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections) is not the mandate of the public it is the mandate of EVM and the Election Commission of India," said Mr Thackeray.
Other senior opposition leaders, including Nana Patole of Congress and Jitendra Awhad of the NCP, echoed concerns over what they termed an "undemocratic attitude" of the ruling alliance and reiterated demands for elections to be conducted using ballot papers instead of EVMs.
"The results have raised questions, the entire process seems tainted. People are unhappy, and something appears wrong," alleged Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar.
The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena faction, and Ajit Pawar's NCP faction, won 230 of the 288 assembly seats in the November 20 elections. This was followed by the swearing-in of Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister, with Mr Shinde and Mr Pawar taking oath as Deputy Chief Ministers on December 5.
Mr Pawar dismissed the Opposition's allegations, urging them to approach the Election Commission or courts with evidence.
"There is no point in making such allegations here. The Opposition should go to the Election Commission and if they do not get justice there, they should approach the court," he said.
A week-long suspense over the Mahayuti's chief ministerial candidate had prompted Mr Thackeray to label the delay as an "insult to Maharashtra." Mr Thackeray alleged that the BJP-led coalition took over a week after the results to decide on a chief minister, claiming that the delay and lack of transparency undermined democratic principles.
Mr Thackeray also targeted the BJP's decision to announce the swearing-in date before formally staking claim to form the government, calling it "anarchy."
"Rules seem to apply only to opposition parties," he said.
Opposition MLAs had also quit the Mahayuti's grand swearing-in ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of dignitaries, including Union ministers and NDA state leaders, at Mumbai's Azad Maidan on Wednesday. The event also featured celebrities from Bollywood, cricket, and business.