Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nitesh Rane on Monday dismissed allegations made by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray against the Election Commission (EC), questioning the timing and intent behind the claims, news agency ANI reported.

Rane said he was "surprised" that Thackeray had not raised similar concerns following the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, in which the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) — part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc — performed better than the Mahayuti parties.