Ravi Rana's Chalisa book & BJP MLA violative of RS poll norms; scrap the votes: MVA to EC

After Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s complaint to Election Commission demanding cancellation of three MVA votes, Maha Vikas Aghadi wrote a counter letter demanding annulment of two votes of BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar and Independent legislator Ravi Rana.

MVA claimed that Mungantiwar violated voting procedure by openly displaying his ballot paper to persons or than his own party nts. three-party coalition apprised EC that Ravi Rana's vote should be cancelled for openly displaying Hanuman Chalisa and trying to influence votes inside voting room.

Interestingly, Rana, donning saffron tilak, held pocket-sized Hanuman Chalisa in his hand while interacting with media. Earlier, Ravi Rana and his MP wife Navneet Rana were arrested by Maharashtra Police after y vowed to chant verses of Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's residence.

" objection in above two cases were filed with Returning Officer by Indian National Congress election nt and ors. RO without even considering facts presented or examining conduct of election rules 1961, allowed vote to be cast," letter said.

It added, "In view of foregoing, we request Commission to enquire into matter and cancel votes that had violed provisions of election rules as well as Commission's settle views as so ordered in Ahmed Patel 2017 case."

BJP's complaint to EC

counting for Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra was delayed on Friday evening after BJP raised objections to votes cast by three MLAs of ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), alleging violation of rules.

BJP alleged that NCP's Jitendra Awhad and Congress' Yashomati Thakur handed over ir ballots to ir party nts instead of only showing m ballots, while Sena legislator Suhas Kande showed his ballot to two different nts. BJP has urged EC to cancel se three votes.

For six Rajya Sabha seats, BJP has fielded three candidates, Shiv Sena fielded two, with NCP and Congress fielding one each.