Nagpur: NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday described Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s presentation on “vote theft” as well-researched and well-documented, adding that it was now for the Election Commission of India (ECI) to examine the matter, news agency PTI reported.

Speaking at a press conference in Nagpur, Pawar conceded that the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi should have exercised greater caution ahead of the Maharashtra elections.

“We should have looked into it earlier and been careful,” he said, according to the report.

Rahul Gandhi has termed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls an “institutionalised chori” and accused the Election Commission of “openly colluding” with the BJP to carry out this “theft” with the aim of disenfranchising the poor.

According to Pawar, Gandhi supported his claims with detailed evidence.
“The ECI should look into it,” he said.

The veteran politician also criticised the needless controversy over Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s seating at a dinner meeting hosted by Rahul Gandhi.

“There was a PowerPoint presentation. When we watch a movie on screen, we don’t sit in front but at the back. Farooq Abdullah and I sat at the back. Similarly, Uddhav Thackeray and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were also seated at the back to watch the presentation properly,” he explained, the report said.

Pawar added that the Opposition had yet to decide its position on the Vice-Presidential election scheduled for September 9.

He also dismissed speculation about his faction joining forces with the ruling NCP led by his nephew Ajit Pawar.

“We will never align with a BJP-led alliance,” he asserted.