By-poll result is vote against Modi's dictatorship: NCP

The NCP today said its success in the Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha by-poll in Maharashtra was an expression of people's resentment against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dictatorial way of functioning.

Madhukar Kukade of the NCP defeated BJP's Hemant Patle in Bhandara-Gondiya.

"This is a vote against Modi's dictatorship," NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said here.

He blamed the BJP's victory in Palghar Lok Sabha by-election on division of votes.

Had the Congress extended support to the Bahujan Vikas Agadhi, the BJP wouldn't have won in Palghar too, Malik said.

"BJP misused power and the government machinery and spent a lot of money to win the by-poll," he alleged.

In Bhandara-Gondiya too the BJP violated the code of conduct by misusing the government machinery, he said.

"If you look at today's four Lok Sabha by-poll results, BJP could not win anywhere except in Palghar. The assembly by-election results also show that it is the beginning of the end for BJP," the NCP spokesperson said.

Referring to reports of Electronic Voting Machines malfunctioning in Bhandara-Gondiya, where re-polling was ordered in some booths, Malik said the Election Commission should consider the demand of reverting to ballot paper voting.

Along with like-minded parties, the NCP and Congress would defeat the Shiv Sena and BJP in 2019 irrespective of whether the saffron allies contest together or separately, Malik said.