Mumbai - In a dramatic turn of events just a day before the Maharashtra Assembly elections, BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde found himself at the center of a major controversy after being allegedly caught with a substantial amount of cash at a hotel in Virar East.
Election Commission officials conducted a raid at the hotel where Tawde was holding a meeting, following an intervention by Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) workers who surrounded him. According to Congress leader Supriya Shrinate, Tawde was found with a black bag containing Rs 5 crore in cash and a diary listing details of an additional Rs 15 crore.
Opposition leaders have strongly condemned the incident. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray sarcastically remarked that Tawde should get a PhD for "dismantling governments" and forming BJP governments, calling it "note jihad" - a term suggesting systematic money distribution to influence elections.
Priyanka Chaturvedi from Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged that videos show "loads of cash" and claimed that a diary found at the scene lists money recipients. She accused the BJP of attempting to buy votes and undermining democratic principles.
NCP MP Supriya Sule expressed shock, stating, "It is shocking that a national leader of such a big party is distributing money. This is very dangerous for any democracy."
BVA leader Hitendra Thakur specifically accused Tawde of distributing money to voters in Palghar district. The opposition has called for immediate action from the Election Commission, with Thackeray warning that if the EC fails to act, Maharashtra will "take action on its own."
The incident has raised serious questions about electoral integrity and the potential manipulation of the democratic process just before the crucial Maharashtra Assembly elections.
The BJP has not yet issued a comprehensive response to these allegations.
