Maharashtra civic body polls: Devendra Fadnavis votes in Prabhag 15, attacks opposition for ‘violence and misinformation’, exudes confidence of BJP victory

NAGPUR: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday cast his vote in Prabhag No. 15 of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections and later interacted with the media, using the occasion to mount a sharp attack on the opposition while expressing confidence of a decisive mandate in favour of the BJP.Calling elections a “Lokshahi festival,” Fadnavis urged citizens to actively participate in strengthening democracy. He appealed to voters to contribute generously to civic development, stating that contributing to the system was not merely a right but a civic duty. “If we want to build a good city and a strong democracy, everyone must participate wholeheartedly,” he said.The Chief Minister strongly condemned the alleged attack on BJP candidate Bhushan Shingne, accusing Congress workers of resorting to violence after sensing defeat.

“When elections cannot be won democratically, attacking candidates is nothing but an assault on democracy,” Fadnavis said, claiming that Shingne suffered serious injuries, including fractures. He asserted that such incidents would not weaken the BJP or its campaign.

“The people of Maharashtra will respond to this through their vote,” he added.Taking a swipe at the opposition, Fadnavis said attempts were being made to cast aspersions on democratic institutions by raising repeated objections over election processes and equipment.

He said the opposition was following a “worn-out script” despite losing legal battles in both the High Court and the Supreme Court. “They have lost everywhere, yet they continue to spread confusion. This only reinforces our belief that our victory is certain,” he remarked.Responding to questions on the use of additional equipment during vote counting, Fadnavis clarified that the Election Commission and civic authorities had already explained the purpose and functioning of the system to representatives of all political parties.

He said the equipment was meant only as a backup to prevent data loss in case of technical failure and would not be misused. “There is complete transparency.

Raising unnecessary doubts only weakens public trust in democratic institutions,” he said.On the issue of indelible ink, the Chief Minister demonstrated the mark on his finger to dispel rumours about its effectiveness, but added that if there were genuine concerns, the Election Commission should examine them.

“Elections must be fair and impartial, but creating controversies over every issue is wrong,” he said.Asked if he felt relaxed on polling day, Fadnavis said there was no time to rest, indicating that preparations for future governance had already begun. He also confirmed that he would be travelling to Davos soon, signalling the government’s continued focus on investment and development beyond the elections.Avoiding direct comment on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, Fadnavis concluded by reiterating faith in the electorate, saying the people would deliver a clear verdict in favour of stability and development.