Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has made a serious allegation against the State Election Commission (SEC), holding it responsible for a recent court order that deferred the vote counting for local body elections. The minister asserted that the SEC's own actions and its "misinterpretation of laws" directly prompted the Bombay High Court's decision.
Minister's Allegations Against the Poll Body
Chandrashekhar Bawankule, a senior BJP leader, stated that the election commission's conduct alone had forced the judicial intervention. He revealed that he had repeatedly cautioned the SEC against any moves that could lead to a delay in the electoral process. Despite these warnings, the minister claims, the poll body proceeded in a manner that necessitated the High Court's order to put the counting on hold.
The Core of the Controversy
The dispute centers around the scheduling and administration of elections for local governing bodies in Maharashtra. According to Bawankule, the SEC's interpretation of relevant statutes was flawed, creating legal and procedural hurdles. This misinterpretation, he argues, became the primary reason the court had to step in and defer the crucial final stage of the democratic process—the counting of votes and the declaration of results.
Implications and Political Fallout
The delay has significant political implications across Maharashtra, leaving candidates and parties in suspense. Bawankule's public statement places the blame squarely on the SEC, framing it as an independent constitutional body whose actions disrupted the election timeline. The incident raises questions about coordination between the state government and the commission, especially concerning the Bombay High Court's role as an arbitrator in electoral disputes.
As of now, the State Election Commission has not issued a public counter-statement to the minister's charges. The situation remains in flux, with the future schedule for vote counting dependent on further judicial proceedings. The development, reported on 02 December 2025, underscores the ongoing tensions that can arise in India's robust democratic framework between elected governments and autonomous institutions tasked with overseeing elections.
