Vinod Tawde in Maharashtra Election 2024: On the eve of Maharashtra’s elections, political tensions flared in Virar when Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) workers confronted Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and national general secretary Vinod Tawde on Tuesday over accusations of attempting to bribe voters. The incident occurred at a hotel in Virar, where BVA workers claimed to have caught Tawde red-handed with cash. As per the BVA, tawde was carrying a bag that contained a diary detailing the distribution of Rs 15 crore. Hitendra Thakur, the BVA MLA from Vasai-Virar, further alleged that tawde had arrived with Rs 5 crore in cash.

Videos that are now going viral on social media show a mob of BVA workers confronting Tawde. The situation escalated further when Kshtij Thakur, the sitting MLA from Nalasopara, allegedly grabbed the diary containing the details of the alleged cash distribution. In the video, Kshitij can also be seen flashing the diary at the camera. He questioned Vinod Tawde’s presence in Virar, noting that campaigning had officially ended on Monday evening. The BVA also raised concerns over the malfunctioning CCTV cameras at the hotel, with Kshitij Thakur accusing the hotel of deliberately disabling them to hide the alleged money distribution.

In response to the incident, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray also spoke out, referencing his own experience of being checked when he visited the area. Thackeray said that even his bags were checked but the authorities found nothing. He also highlighted the attack on NCP leader Anil Deshmukh who was supposed to be overseeing all this.

How did BVA workers know about alleged cash distribution in Virar?

BVA chief Hitendra Thakur claimed that their party received the tip about the alleged cash distribution from some BJP workers themselves. He also noted that he didn’t think that a national leader like Tawde would stoop to this task. But after seeing him there, he urged the Election Commission to take action against him and the BJP.

What did Tawde say in his defense?

Speaking to news agency ANI, Vinod Tawde clarified that the purpose of the meeting was misunderstood by Hitendra Thakur and his son Kshitij Thakur. He claimed that the meeting was called to discuss the sealing of voting machines and the procedure for raising objections, not about money distribution. Tawde emphasised that the Bahujan Vikas Agadhi workers, including Hitendra and Kshitij, wrongly assumed that money was being handed out. He challenged the authorities and said that the Election Commission and the police should investigate the matter, including reviewing CCTV footage. He further added that he has been with the BJP for 40 years and expressed confidence that an impartial inquiry would clear up the misunderstanding.

The BJP swiftly dismissed the allegations made by the BVA, calling it a publicity stunt on their end. BJP leader Pravin Darekar asserted that the MVA had already lost the election and was resorting to false accusations to gain attention. Another party leader, Atul Bhatkhalkar said that it’s a ‘false narrative’ which has been created by the Opposition in deliberate attempt of maligning the BJP’s image.

‘Note Jihad’ – Uddhav’s dig at Vinod Tawde 

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday also made a sharp remark of “Note Jihad” with respect to Tawde facing allegations of cash distribution. Thackeray slammed BJP’s tactics, suggesting they were engaging in “note jihad” aimed at securing votes through cash distribution. He referred to a video showing bundles of money being circulated and stated that Maharashtra voters would decide the outcome the next day. Thackeray also responded to the BJP’s slogan “Batenge toh Katenge” (divided we fall), mocking their claims of “vote jihad.” Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had urged voters to counter the alleged “vote jihad” with a “Dharmayuddha of votes.” Thackeray also pointed out that Tawde, who was praised for influencing government changes in some states, had now revealed the secret behind these actions.

Opposition Reacts

In contrast, the MVA leaders demanded a thorough investigation by the Election Commission. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged that Tawde was part of a larger conspiracy and pointed to his substantial cash reserves, claiming that BJP operatives were involved in distributing money with police escorts. He raised concerns that prominent BJP leaders, including state Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, were aware of these actions.

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole accused the BJP of misusing government machinery and engaging in corrupt practices to secure votes. He also criticised the Election Commission for failing to act impartially, citing instances of opposition leaders being unfairly scrutinized, while the ruling party faced no such scrutiny. Patole condemned the violence during the campaign and stated that the people of Maharashtra would not tolerate such politics. The Congress party also took to X and wrote, “With voting in Maharashtra just around the corner, BJP leaders are attempting to influence the elections using money. This involves everyone from workers to high-ranking leaders. The Election Commission should take note of this issue and take strict action.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi pointed out that while Uddhav Thackeray’s bags were checked several times, those actually carrying cash were not subjected to any scrutiny. She added that many individuals are now exposed, and expressed anticipation over what action the Election Commission would take against BJP and its General Secretary, Vinod Tawde.

NCP (led by Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule too criticised the BJP over the shocking incident, questioning where such a large amount of cash had come from, given that the party had previously implemented demonetisation. She expressed surprise that a senior leader like Vinod Tawde could be involved in such an event, assuming the allegations were true.

Maharashtra will be voting on Wednesday in what promises to be a highly competitive electoral battle. IN the previous Assembly Elections, the NDA alliance, comprising the BJP and the undivided Shiv Sena, achieved a resounding victory, securing 161 of the 288 seats. However, the alliance fractured over disagreements on rotational Chief Ministership. Following this split, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray formed the MVA government by allying with the Congress and Sharad Pawar’s NCP. The MVA government then collapsed in 2022 when Eknath Shinde led a rebellion that fractured the Shiv Sena. Shinde’s faction later joined forces with the BJP. Meanwhile, the NCP also experienced internal strife when Ajit Pawar defected to the ruling coalition. In this election, the two factions of the Shiv Sena and NCP are now on opposing sides, turning the contest into a high-stakes battle.