MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Kedar Dighe has raised serious concerns over alleged irregularities in the handling of postal ballots. Dighe, who is contesting against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly constituency in Thane, has demanded a re-poll, alleging that a postal ballot box was improperly sent to the election observer’s room instead of designated force room.

At the conclusion of voting, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and postal ballots will be secured in rooms equipped with double locks, CCTV surveillance and round-the-clock security by the Central Armed Police Force. However, Dighe claimed: “The observer’s room had no CCTV coverage. Anything could have happened under such circumstances. Officials say GPS trackers are attached to all the boxes, but these devices can be tampered with. I am asking that the whole process be stopped and a new survey be conducted.”

Dighe further accused the electoral authorities of not following the model code of conduct during the campaign. “My campaign ended at 10 pm as per the rules, but the chief minister’s rallies continued till midnight. If postal ballots can be tampered with, nothing is but tampering,” he charged.

Kedar Dighe carries the legacy of his uncle, the late Anand Dighe, a towering Shiv Sena leader who dominated Thane for decades and was a mentor to CM Eknath Shinde. The contest between the two candidates was closely watched, given the deep personal and political animosities involved. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has openly labeled Shinde a “traitor” for his rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership and pitted Dighe — a relative of Anand Dighe — against him to underline the narrative of betrayal.

However, Dighe’s allegations were quickly dismissed by both the Electoral Commission and political rivals. Thane District Collector Ashok Shingare assured to seek clarification from the presiding officer. Meanwhile, Returning Officer Sarjerao Mhaske Patil flatly denied the claims, saying, “There is no truth in these allegations.”

Thane MP and Shinde loyalist Naresh Mhaske accused Dighe of creating a smokescreen to divert attention from his impending defeat. “Kedar Dighe also loses by a huge margin. He was booked by the Election Commission for distributing bottles of liquor on the eve of the polls. Cash was also found in his car and an FIR was lodged against him. He has no answers now,” Mhaske said.