BJP’s Vinod Tawde Vs Rahul Gandhi Over Cash-For-Vote Allegations In Maharashtra

Last Updated:November 19, 2024, 18:44 IST

A huge controversy has been erupted on Tuesday after Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) chief Hitendra Thakur accused BJP’s Vinod Tawde of allegedly distributing cash to woo voters

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Vinod Tawde came out all guns blazing Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over alleged vote-for-cash scam involving the former ahead of the polling for Maharashtra legislative assembly elections, saying levelling allegations without any proof is an act of childishness.

Tawde further urged the Congress leader to visit Nalasopara to examine the CCTV footage of the hotel and prove his claims of cash being distributed among the voters.

“@RahulGandhi Sir, you yourself come to Nalasopara, see the CCTV footage of the hotel, see the entire proceedings of the Election Commission held there and prove that the money came in this manner. If making such a statement without any information isn’t childishness then what is?” he said in a post on X.

Tawde’s response came hours after Gandhi took a jibe at the saffron camp and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying who looted the public’s money and sent “you in the tempo”.

“Modiji, from whose SAFE did these 5 crores come? Who looted the public’s money and sent you in the tempo?” the Lok Sabha LoP said in a post on X.

The Cash-For-Vote Allegations

A huge controversy has been erupted on Tuesday after Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) chief Hitendra Thakur accused BJP’s Tawde of allegedly distributing cash to woo voters at the Vivanta Hotel in Virar, Palghar district, ahead of the polling for Maharashtra assembly elections.

“Some BJP leaders informed me that BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde is coming to Virar to disburse Rs 5 crore to influence voters. I thought a national leader like him would not stoop to such a trivial task. But I saw him here. I urge the Election Commission to take action against him and the BJP,” Thakur said.

However, the Election Commission have seized a total of Rs 9,53,900 in cash from the hotel where Tawde was staying. The police have sealed the hotel amid protests by the BVA workers demanding Tawde’s immediate arrest. Police said three FIRs have been filed so far at the Tulinj police station over the violation of Model Code of Conduct, alleged cash-for-vote scam, and illegal press conference by BVA and BJP.

BJP’s Denial

Tawde has denied allegations calling them absured and baseless. He said, “A meeting of workers was being held in the Nalasopara Assembly constituency, where we were explaining the election day code of conduct, such as how to seal the voting machines, how the final seal should be applied, and the necessary steps in case of objections. I had gone there to explain these points.”

He further called for an impartial investigation by the ECI.

Further BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi rebutted the claims. He said, “In Maharashtra, a baseless allegation has been made as a last attempt by the MVA…Vinod Tawde is our national secretary and is looking after several functions of the party… The candidate of the (Nalasopara) constituency asked him to attend the meeting. He was passing nearby, so he agreed… Such meetings are done to instruct the party workers regarding the polling process… We insist that the CCTV of the hotel and the nearby areas be checked… Rs. 5 crores cannot be brought in a pocket. It would be visible if someone were carrying it… They should show proof and not make baseless allegations,”

Row Erupts

The allegations have triggered a uproar, with reactions coming from the state’s political spectrum. A video shared by the Congress showed BVA supporters waving currency notes in front of Tawde.

“BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde has been caught distributing money in a hotel in Maharashtra. Vinod Tawde had taken the money in a bag and was calling people there and distributing the money,” Congress said in a post on X.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray took a “note jihad” jibe over claims of Tawde distributing money hours before voting for the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Thackeray demanded strict action by the Election Commission of India, stating that merely registering a case against Tawde won’t suffice.