Mumbai: Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Harshvardhan Sapkal on Friday requested the State Election Commission to file a criminal case against State Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
In a letter to State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare, Sapkal accused the Assembly Speaker of using his constitutional position to intimidate opposition candidates and using government staff to campaign for his relatives.
The controversy relates to the nomination process for the municipal corporation elections in the Colaba constituency (Wards 225, 226, and 227). Rahul Narvekar’s brother Makarand Narvekar, sister Gauravi Shivalkar, and sister-in-law Harshada Narvekar have filed nominations as BJP candidates. Sapkal alleged that during the filing process at around 5:00 pm, Speaker Narvekar himself was present and, using police personnel, intimidated opposition candidates into filing nominations against his family members, obstructed the legal process of submitting nomination forms, and pressured the administration to reject or prevent the opposition’s filing.
Sapkal stated in his letter, “This kind of obstruction of the electoral process by a person holding a high constitutional position is a mockery of democracy.”
The State Congress President further alleged widespread misuse of government resources. He claimed that approximately 70 officers and employees of the Speaker’s office were actively participating in the election campaigns of Speaker Narvekar’s relatives.
Sapkal demanded immediate disciplinary action and filing of cases against these government employees for violating service rules and election protocols.
Expressing concern over the transparency of the upcoming elections, Sapkal appealed to the State Election Commission to take strict action.
The letter states, “It is the Commission’s duty to conduct fair, transparent, and fearless elections. Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar is acting as if he is above the law. By acting arbitrarily, he is effectively stifling democracy. The SEC must now demonstrate that it has the courage to uphold the rule of law in Maharashtra.”
They demanded an immediate investigation into the behavior of both the Speaker and the police officers present at the nomination center.
