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What’s the cash-for-vote row involving BJP’s Vinod Tawde, a day before Maharashtra Assembly polls? – Firstpost

What’s the cash-for-vote row involving BJP’s Vinod Tawde, a day before Maharashtra Assembly polls? – Firstpost



A high-voltage political drama has gripped Maharashtra, a day before the western state goes to polls. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Vinod Tawde has been accused by the regional outfit Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) of distributing money to influence voters in Palghar.

The saffron party has rejected the claims, calling them politically motivated. The opposition has grabbed the opportunity to lambast the BJP.
Maharashtra Assembly elections are slated for Wednesday (November 20), with the results on November 23.

Let’s take a closer look.

Allegations against BJP’s Vinod Tawde

On Tuesday (November 19), chaotic scenes emerged from a hotel in Virar East where Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) workers gheraoed BJP’s Tawde over cash-for-vote allegations.

A video has surfaced on social media showing BVA workers storming Hotel Vivanta and hurling cash at the BJP general secretary’s face.

The incident took place during a meeting between Tawde and BJP’s Nalasopara Assembly candidate, Rajan Naik. BVA workers disrupted the meeting, alleging the distribution of cash to attendees.

Hitendra Thakur, the BVA MLA from Vasai-Virar, claimed Tawde was caught red-handed with Rs 5 crore in cash. The sitting Nalasopara MLA and Hitendra’s son, Kshitij Thakur, alleged two diaries containing details of the alleged cash distribution of Rs 15 crore were found in Tawde’s possession, as per reports.

BVA workers also alleged that the main gate of the hotel was closed while Tawde’s meeting was underway, reported Times of India (TOI).

The ruckus intensified when Kshitij reportedly snatched the diary and questioned the BJP general secretary’s presence in Virar even after the election campaigning officially ended Monday evening.

“I was told by BJP workers that Vinod Tawde was coming with Rs 5 crore. I came with my supporters… The police and Election Commission must act. The CCTV network of the hotel was also shut and started much after I arrived. I feel that the hotel management is also involved and action must be taken against them,” Hitendra Thakur alleged, as per Hindustan Times (HT).

While he is contesting the polls from Vasai, his son, Kshitij has been given a ticket from Nalasopara.

After the clash lasted over three hours, Hitendra and Kshitij Thakur, Vinod Tawde and BJP’s Naik decided to conduct a joint press conference at the hotel. However, it was stopped by the Election Commission (EC) officials who said it was illegal to hold one during the ‘silence period’.

“Rs 9.93 lakh have been recovered from the hotel rooms (of Tawde),” an EC official was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

Three FIRs have been lodged in the case, including against Tawde and Naik.

“The BJP and Bahujan Vikas Aghadi workers were present on different floors. Some amount of money and a few diaries have been recovered from here. Two FIRs have been registered, and a third FIR is also being lodged for holding a press conference illegally,” Pournima Chougule, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone-II, Vasai, told ANI.

Also Read:
Maharashtra elections: What’s open, what’s closed tomorrow as state heads to polls?

BJP reacts

The BJP has rubbished the cash-for-vote allegations against Tawde, who says he was at the Virar hotel to discuss election procedure.

“I had stopped on my way to discuss about polling process and code of conduct with our candidate,” he said.

“I had a brief meeting with the candidate and was about to leave when BVA workers came. They thought I was distributing money. EC personnel came, [and] they checked my vehicle, [but] they did not find anything. Let there be [an] investigation into the allegations they are making,” Tawde was quoted as saying by HT.

Senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said, “Vinod Tawde is a national general secretary. Is he going to distribute money at ward levels? Such claims are absurd.”

Dismissing the allegations, BJP leader Pravin Darekar stated, “I feel that this charge Tawde is distributing money is laughable. BVA feels that they have lost elections and hence creating a narrative.”

Opposition hits out at BJP

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has slammed the BJP over the controversy.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut wrote on X, “The job which has to be done by Election Commission was done by Thakurs.”

The Congress called on the EC to take strict action in the case.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray took a “note jihad” swipe at the BJP. “Is this BJP’s note jihad (for votes)? ‘Baatenge aur jitenge’ (will distribute cash to win). Entire Maharashtra has seen it (a video showing bundles of cash). Maharashtra will decide tomorrow,” the former chief minister told reporters.

Thackeray was referring to the BJP’s controversial slogan of ‘Batenge toh Katenge’ (divided we fall) and “vote Jihad” claims.

With inputs from agencies





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