BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde in “cash-for-votes” drama; party rubbishes claim
Mumbai | The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi on Tuesday accused BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde of distributing Rs five crore to woo voters, a day before the Maharashtra assembly elections, a claim the BJP leader denied, saying he was only providing guidance to party workers on poll procedures.
Videos of the “cash distribution”, many of them shot by BVA members who barged into the hotel hall where Tawde was present, went viral, after which police registered two first information reports about the alleged cash distribution.
BVA leader Hitendra Thakur said his party supporters found Tawde with the cash at a hotel in Virar, 60 km from Mumbai, a day after election campaigning ended.
“I was informed by a BJP leader that he (Tawde) has come to distribute this huge cash. I could not believe that such a key national functionary of that party will do so, but sadly it turned out to be true,” Thakur told a Marathi news channel.
“In the hotel today, cash, diaries and laptops (related to the alleged cash distribution) were recovered. The diaries mentioned names and the amount given to them,” Thakur said.
A viral video showed BVA party supporters barging into the Virar hotel room and flinging bundles of cash at Tawde's face, before police escorted him out.
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.
Hitendra Thakur said BVA members received information about Tawde conducting a meeting at the hotel in Manvelpada area, where Naik and local BJP leaders were present.
Some BVA workers alleged that they witnessed Tawde distributing money to attendees.
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.
Amid claims by BVA leaders that Rs five crore cash was distributed, an election official said Rs 9.93 lakh cash was recovered from the hotel rooms.
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.
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.
District collector and election officer Govind Bodke said the election department received complaints from BVA that some BJP people were distributing cash at the Virar hotel. Following the complaint, a team of election officials and police went to the hotel and carried out an inspection, he said. They seized Rs 9,93,500 cash and some documents, he added.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
"Tawde was lauded for toppling governments in some states and helping to form new ones. Now the secret behind this has come out in the open,” Thackeray said.
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.
Patole told reporters that the BJP for using money power to manipulate the electoral process, adding it is an attempt to win the elections through corrupt means, fearing a resounding defeat.
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.
Mumbai | Police on Tuesday registered two FIRs against BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde, party candidate Rajan Naik and others in connection with the alleged distribution of cash to voters at a hotel in Palghar a day before the Maharashtra polls, an official said.
A separate FIR was registered against BJP and Bahujan Vikas Aghadi functionaries for allegedly trying to address a press conference.
The three cases were registered at the Tulinj police station in Palghar district for alleged violation of the election code of conduct in place for the November 20 assembly elections.
The first FIR named Tawde and others for assembling at a hotel in violation of the poll code, while the second one accuses them of luring voters by offering cash and alcohol to them, the police said.
Hours before the assembly polls, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) leader Hitendra Thakur accused Tawde of distributing Rs 5 crore at a hotel in Virar, 60 km from Mumbai, to woo voters, a claim the BJP leader denied, saying he was only providing guidance to party workers on poll procedures.
A police official on Tuesday night said Rs 9,93,500 cash was seized from the hotel.
A Tulinj police station official said, "In the first FIR, 22 people, including BJP leader Vinod Tawde, BJP candidate from Nalasopara Rajan Naik and party office-bearer Manoj Barot have been named, while 200 to 250 unidentified party workers shown as accused for illegally assembling on the fifth floor of the hotel and holding a meeting, thereby violating the election code of conduct."
In another FIR, 34 others, including Tawde, Naik and Barot, were named as accused along with 200 to 250 unidentified party workers. They were accused of violating the poll code for allegedly luring people by offering cash and alcohol to them, he said.
Both the cases were registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Representation of People's Act, the official said, adding that the investigation was underway.
A viral video showed BVA party supporters barging into the Virar hotel room and flinging bundles of cash at Tawde's face before police escorted him out.
A deputy commissioner of police of the Mira Bhayanda-Vasai Virar police said, ''We are taking action against whatever happened in the hotel. The press conference held on the premises was also illegal. We will take action as per law.''
After a ruckus of over three hours at the hotel, Hitendra Thakur, his son Kshitij, Tawde, and BJP candidate Naik tried to address a press conference, however, it was stopped by poll officials.