CM blames EVM, drought for Bhandara-Gondia loss

Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has blamed the drought conditions in remote areas of the State for his party’s defeat in the by-elections to the Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seat.

Mr. Fadnavis urged the Election Commission (EC) to take note of the failure of the electronic voting machines (EVM) because of which the voting percentage of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tanked.

“There was a severe drought in the past one year in this area and the elections were in May. If the same election had taken place during the monsoon, the results could have been different. But a loss is a loss, and I congratulate the candidate who has emerged winner,” Mr. Fadnavis said, while calling the win in Palghar decisive.

“I am sad our own people fought against us in this election, leading to bitterness. But that is past us now,” he said.

Hitting out at the EC for not taking a serious note of the EVM failure, Mr. Fadnavis said this has restricted many voters from using their franchise.

“This [the failure of EVMs] has been a big loss for the BJP, but even then the Opposition blamed us for the EVM failure,” Mr. Fadnavis said, while hinting the BJP is prepared to go solo in case the Shiv Sena decides to part ways. “We are ready for talks with them. But they have their view and we have ours on this (the separation).”