Baba Adhav Leading EVM Movement in Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray to Meet Social Activist

Baba Adhav: Questions about EVMs have been quite widely discussed among opposition leaders after the recent Assembly elections in Maharashtra. Baba Adhav, a well-known social activist and an ardent critic of the EVM system, has been leading the movement against EVMs. On November 30, 2024, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is going to meet Baba Adhav to discuss the ongoing protests against the EVM system.

Baba Adhav's Legacy: Long History of Social Activism

Born on June 1, 1930, in Pune Baba Adhav is a committed social worker who has a legacy of struggle for causes in the state of Maharashtra. A very early age was the date when he joined Rashtriya Seva Dal in the years 1943 till 1950. His political career took its first great leap forward in 1952; he led a hunger strike against high prices of eating stuff and ended up the first term in prison that year.

Major Events in Baba Adhav's Activism

Involvement in Gommantak Liberation Movement: Baba Adhav was involved in the Gommantak Liberation Movement in the mid-1950s, where he struggled for the rights of poor communities in the region.
Formation of 'One Village, One Water' Movement (1972): While there was a severe drought in Maharashtra in 1972, Adhav established the 'One Village, One Water' movement that was aimed at providing water for drinking purposes to all villages facing water scarcity in the rural areas.
Participating in the United Maharashtra Movement, 1956: He was actively involved in the movement that culminated into the creation of the state of Maharashtra.

Political Leadership and Advocacy

Baba Adhav also had political activism. He was elected to the Pune Municipal Corporation from the Nana Peth constituency between 1961 and 1967. Adhav lost the mayoral race by a single vote, but he remained an active advocate.

Baba Adhav has been a land reform policy advocate and was one of the key organizers of protests for farmers' rights, especially when the Maharashtra State Dam and Project Affected Farmers Rehabilitation Council was formed in 1963.
He established the M. Phule Samta Pratishthan in 1971, and during the following years, he brought out many works which propagated social change, such as books on inequality, casteism, and the need for progressive reform.

Baba Adhav's Role in the EVM Movement

Baba Adhav has lately gained much attention as he protests vigorously against the use of Electronic Voting Machines in India. He feels that EVMs can be manipulated and, thus, lead to unfair election results. His anti-EVM activism has been able to garner support from several opposition leaders, such as NCP leaders Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, who met Baba Adhav in Pune on November 30, 2024, to discuss the growing concerns over election integrity.

Uddhav Thackeray's Upcoming Meeting with Baba Adhav

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray is going to meet Baba Adhav soon to discuss the political and social ramifications of the EVM controversy. Thackeray, who has been vocal about the results of the Maharashtra election, is likely to engage with Adhav to explore ways to challenge the legitimacy of EVM-based elections.