Mumbai, 2 January – Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal has written to the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra, demanding a case be filed against Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar for violating the Model Code of Conduct.
Sapkal has also urged action against officials and employees of the Speaker’s office who are actively campaigning for Narvekar’s relatives.
In a letter addressed to State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare, Maharashtra Congress alleged that Rahul Narvekar pressured election officials to reject nomination papers of opposition candidates. The party has called for action against Narvekar and his supported candidates for violations during the Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections.
According to the letter, municipal elections are underway with the Model Code of Conduct in place. It is the commission’s duty to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections. However, complaints indicate that opposition candidates are being pressured and forced to withdraw their nominations.
Sapkal wrote that the most serious concern is the Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar’s alleged interference in pressuring administration to disallow opposition candidates’ nominations and intimidating them. As a constitutional office holder, such actions by Narvekar amount to a violation of democratic principles.
The letter states that from Mumbai’s Colaba Assembly constituency, wards 225, 226, and 227, Narvekar’s brother Makrand Narvekar, sister Gaurav Shivalkar, and sister-in-law Harshada Narvekar have filed nominations on a BJP ticket. Narvekar was personally present during the nomination process.
It further claims that around 5 pm, while nominations were being filed, Rahul Narvekar allegedly used police to intimidate opposition candidates attempting to file their papers, preventing them from doing so.
Sapkal emphasised that a person holding a significant constitutional position has mocked democracy and obstructed the election process, warranting a legal case against him.
He also alleged that three members of Narvekar’s family are contesting the Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections and around 70 officials and employees from the Speaker’s office are actively involved in their campaign. Participation of government officials in election campaigning breaches legal provisions.
Demanding strict action, Sapkal called for filing a case against Rahul Narvekar for violating the Model Code of Conduct and action against government employees involved in BJP’s election campaign.
– AMT/DSC
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