Cash for votes: BVA chief claims BJP leader Tawde disbursed Rs 5 crore for votes in Palghar; Police recover Rs 9.93 lakh, incriminating documents-OxBig News Network

Bahujan Vikas Aghadi on Tuesday accused BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde of distributing Rs 5 crore to woo voters.

Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) chief Hitendra Thakur had claimed Tawde had come to Virar to disburse Rs 5 crore to influence voters, and he was at a hotel.

Videos of the “cash distribution”, many of them shot by BVA members who barged into the hotel hall where Tawde was present, went viral. Some BVA workers alleged that they witnessed Tawde distributing money to attendees.

Tawde and the BJP, however, have denied the allegation. The BJP leader claimed he was in Nalla Sopara to provide guidance regarding election procedures and challenged the opposition parties to verify his activities.

Following this, the returning officer of Nallasopara and a police team, along with the joint police commissioner and two deputy police commissioners, searched the hotel and recovered Rs 9.93 lakh cash and some incriminating documents, the official said.

The collector, in a recorded message, confirmed that cases were registered for offences, including possession of cash, violation of the model code of conduct, and holding illegal press conferences. A police official said two FIRs have been registered at the Tulinj police station in connection with incidents linked to the hotel where the alleged cash distribution took place, without revealing against whom these offences were registered.

After the ruckus of over three hours at the hotel, it was decided that a joint press conference of Hitendra Thakur, his son Kshitij, Tawde and BJP’s candidate Rajan Naik would be held at the hotel. However, as the press conference started, it was stopped by poll officials stating that it is illegal to hold one.

The incident took place a day before polling in Nallasopara assembly constituency, where BVA MLA and Thajur’s son Kshitij is pitted against BJP’s Rajan Naik.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) slammed Tawde and the BJP, accused the saffron party of indulging in “cash-for-votes” and “note jihad”, along with misusing government machinery and engaging in corrupt practices.

BJP leader Pravin Darekar said, “The MVA has already lost the game. They are destined for defeat in this election, which is why they are making such absurd allegations against us.” MVA leaders sought a comprehensive investigation by the Election Commission, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut suggesting a conspiracy against Tawde by some BJP leaders and Uddhav Thackeray demanded strict action by the Election Commission of India, stating that merely registering a case against Tawde won’t suffice.

“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,” Thackeray told reporters.

Raut said, “No matter how much the BJP tries to hide, whatever happened in Nallasopara-Virar, happened before the camera.” Raut claimed that prominent BJP leaders, including state Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, were aware of Tawde’s activities.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole accused the BJP of misusing government machinery and indulging in corrupt practices, including “notes for votes” (distributing money to buy votes), fearing a defeat in the upcoming state assembly elections.

Also on Tuesday, BVA’s official candidate from Dahanu assembly seat, Suresh Padvi, joined the BJP and declared his support for BJP’s official candidate Vinod Mendha.