Today, Maharashtra’s 9.63 crore eligible voters will decide the fate of the 288 Vidhan Sabha seats, marking a crucial moment in the state’s political landscape. The contest is fierce, with the BJP-led grand alliance, comprising the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, pitted against the Congress, Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction, and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. Amid this, two controversies in the last 48 hours could significantly impact the BJP's prospects.
On the eve of crucial Assembly poll, a sensational incident rocked the State’s politics. Vinod Tawde, BJP National General Secretary, faced allegations of distributing cash for votes at a hotel in Nalasopara East. Workers of Hitendra Thakur’s Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) reportedly caught Tawde “red-handed”, leading to the recovery of Rs 9.93 lakh from hotel rooms linked to BJP operations, as per Election Commission (EC) sources. A video of the incident went viral, triggering a media storm and backlash from Opposition leaders.
BVA candidate Kshitij Thakur promptly alerted the police and EC officials, resulting in an FIR and the seizure of cash. The planned joint press conference with Tawde, BVA leaders, and BJP candidate Rajan Naik was halted by EC officials, citing election protocol violations.
Vinod Tawde denied the allegations, claiming he was at the hotel to oversee election preparations like verifying EVMs and identity cards. He vouched for his clean image during his 40 years stint in BJP and even sought a thorough investigation into the matter.
However, Opposition leaders seized the moment. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut mocked the BJP’s integrity on X (formerly Twitter), while Congress leader Nana Patole demanded Tawde’s arrest. He demanded that decisive action from the Election Commission.
BVA leader Hitendra Thakur went further, accusing Tawde of attempting to distribute Rs 5 crore and questioning the suspicious shutdown of the hotel’s CCTV cameras. Thakur alleged internal sabotage within the BJP, claiming a senior BJP leader tipped him off about Tawde’s activities.
The allegations of internal betrayal have added another layer of complexity. Thakur’s revelation that a senior BJP leader informed him of Tawde’s actions has fuelled speculation of discord within the party. Despite mounting pressure, BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis, who is the State Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister, has remained uncharacteristically silent. This silence has led to further conjecture about potential rifts among Maharashtra BJP leaders, especially between Tawde and Fadnavis.
The Tawde controversy has handed the Opposition a golden opportunity to corner the BJP. Leaders from the Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena have united in criticising the ruling party, leveraging the incident to question the BJP’s commitment to free and fair elections. Uddhav Thackeray remarked that the BJP’s actions undermined democracy, adding that the EC’s role in ensuring accountability will be under scrutiny.
The timing of the incident—mere hours before polling—has thrown the BJP into damage control mode. For the opposition, the controversy serves as a rallying cry to energize their voter base. The Election Commission’s ongoing investigation and the BJP’s response in the coming days will likely influence public sentiment.
In another incident former Home Minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh accused the BJP of orchestrating an attack on him. Deshmukh’s vehicle was pelted with stones, leaving him with minor injuries. The incident has added to the rising political tensions, with Deshmukh directly blaming the BJP, which he sees as his primary adversary, especially given his previous incarceration in an ED case.
Devendra Phadnavis, a key BJP leader, countered Deshmukh’s allegations, claiming the attack was staged to malign the BJP. This claim adds another layer to the already charged political atmosphere.
The recent incidents before the polls, including the controversy involving Vinod Tawde, could influence public opinion, but the true impact on BJP’s prospects will only be evident on November 23, when the election results are declared. As the political drama unfolds, it underscores the high-stakes nature of this election for all parties involved.