BJP used all means even ECI to defeat us, says Ex-CM Prithviraj Chavan

The ECI has sought report from CEO Maharashtra following the controversy over the agency allegedly linked to BJP office-national convenor Devang Dave who also allegedly handled BJP IT and Social Media cell was hired by the CEO Maharashtra during assembly election

@santosheemishra

Mumbai: Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Friday alleged that an advertising and social media company linked to the BJP-media IT cell was hired by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Maharashtra to issue election related online ads during 2019 assembly elections. Meanwhile, the CEO Maharashtra office in a statement issued here washed its hands of the controversy stating that it is the state governments publicity department hires agencies for spreading electoral awareness and not the CEO Maharashtra.

The former chief minister Chavan wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and demanded a detailed enquiry on it as sanctity of the election process has to be maintained. It was during the same period ahead assembly elections of 2019 the BJP government led by – the then CM Devendra Fadnavis was in power in Maharashtra.

The ECI has mandated the state election commission to monitor all the social media activities of all political parties.

Also Read: Milk agitation for subsidy and special package to continue for long, says Raju Shetti

Speaking to thenews21 former CM Chavan said, “The then ruling BJP-Govt led by Devendra Fadnavis had used all the means and tactics to win the election and to ensure that Congress does not get in power. The election commission has access to voter databases and demographics and it is indeed crucial one.  It is evident that data was available to the Fadnavis government through their social media agency.”

Meanwhile the ECI has sought a detailed report in the matter from the CEO Maharashtra.

The senior congress leader in his letter told that the agency Social Central is owned by Devang Dave who is an office-bearer of the BJP. He is the national convenor of the IT and social media cell the BJP Yuva Morcha. The website of Dave’s company shows both BJP and CEO Maharashtra as its clientele.

“It is therefore necessary for the National Election Commission to investigate the matter as what was the process involved in selecting the same firm which works for the BJP and it should be brought in light as whether the ruling Fadnavis government either directly or indirectly used political pressure on the CEO Maharashtra ,” added Chavan the former state CM.

When contacted Dilip Shinde, Additional CEO of Maharashtra in a statement issued late in the evening said, “It is misleading and incorrect to suggest that the office of the Chief Electoral Officer has engaged any agency on political considerations. As per standard practice, electoral awareness campaign is launched through an agency engaged by the Director General of Information and Public Relations Department (DGIPR), Government of Maharashtra. They, in turn follow rules in force and a laid down procedure for selecting an appropriate agency for public awareness and it is not by CEO Office”.

“In as far as for the specific imputation made in the tweet of Saket Gokhale, an interim reply of facts has been sent to Election Commission of India (ECI). Meanwhile, some other representations on the matter have been received from some public representatives, which are also being addressed and a detailed response in this regard shall be sent to the commission soon”, CEO office statement further stated.

When contacted the BJP Maharashtra Spokesperson Keshav Upadhye  on the controversy erupted of the involvement of BJP office-bearer , Dave’s firms and state election commission during the regime of the BJP in the year 2019 , the spokesperson did not respond to phone calls or messages .

Pravin Alai, now the Head of BJP IT and social media cell, told TheNews21 that he does not know much about Dave. “He was the convenor till 2015 here in the state and later was the National convenor of the BJP Yuva Morcha.”