Uddhav Thackeray, Congress blame ECI for 'slow voting'; BJP hits back

Mumbai: A 'slow voting process', with several voters waiting in queues for a very long time, led to the Maharashtra Opposition parties, especially the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction and Congress, accusing ECI of 'slowing down voting in areas where people would vote against BJP'.

"Those who are sitting in polling booths are delaying the voting process. We are getting specific complaints from Mumbai and outside too," Thackeray said. Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad claimed on social media, "Getting concerning reports from across Mumbai of citizens waiting for several hours in the queue to vote...and only then being able to vote or returning frustrated..."

BJP, while admitting that voting was slow, slammed Thackeray for his charges.


State electoral officer S Chockalingam in a statement said: "Due to overwhelming response in the morning hours, queues were seen at some polling booths. Special efforts...were taken to expedite the polling process..."