Just hours before Maharashtra heads to polls, the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) has accused BJP leaders, including general secretary and former minister Vinod Tawde, of distributing cash to influence voters. The allegations center around a hotel in Virar, Palghar district, where BJP candidate from Nalasopara, Rajan Naik, was reportedly seen distributing cash in Tawde’s presence.
Kshitij Thakur, sitting MLA from BVA, arrived at the hotel with his supporters, leading to chaotic scenes. Videos circulating online show BVA supporters waving currency notes in front of Tawde and claiming to have found envelopes containing cash and diaries at the venue.
The Congress has also weighed in, sharing videos purportedly from the hotel and accusing the BJP of using “money power” to influence the elections. In a post on X, the Congress stated, “Even top leaders are involved. The Election Commission should take note and strict action.”
The BJP has strongly refuted the claims, describing them as a “political stunt” by the BVA on the eve of elections. The party stated that Tawde was at the hotel for a routine meeting with party workers to discuss poll preparations.
Calling for an investigation, BJP leaders urged the Election Commission to review CCTV footage of the incident. “This is nothing but a gimmick,” a senior BJP leader remarked.
Maharashtra votes on Wednesday in what promises to be a closely fought election. In the 2019 Assembly polls, the NDA alliance of BJP and undivided Shiv Sena secured a landslide victory, winning 161 of the 288 seats. However, the alliance fell apart over disagreements on rotational chief ministership, leading to political realignments.
After parting ways, Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray joined forces with Congress and Sharad Pawar’s NCP to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. This coalition collapsed in 2022 after a mutiny led by Eknath Shinde, which split the Shiv Sena. Shinde later aligned with the BJP, forming the current ruling coalition.
Further divisions emerged within the NCP when Ajit Pawar broke away and joined the BJP-Shinde coalition, creating two rival factions of both Shiv Sena and NCP ahead of these elections.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, the Opposition alliance of Congress, Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar) performed well, winning 30 of Maharashtra’s 48 seats. The Mahayuti alliance, comprising BJP, Shinde’s Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction, managed 17 seats.
This Assembly election is being seen as a prestige battle, with the MVA looking to build on its Lok Sabha success, while Mahayuti aims to reclaim dominance. With both alliances pulling out all the stops, the election is set to be a significant indicator of Maharashtra’s political future.
