Solapur district collector and district election officer Kumar Ashirwad has rejected the allegations made by NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar. “As per People’s Representation Act, only EC and its machinery are authorised to conduct elections, and mock polling is not allowed once the election process is over. The mock polling at Markadwadi had no legitimacy, and there were no checks and balances in place to ensure free and fair polling.”