Tensions escalated in Virar a day before Maharashtra’s elections as Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) workers surrounded BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde, accusing him of attempting to distribute cash to influence voters. The Election Commission (EC) reported the recovery of nearly Rs 9.93 lakh from hotel rooms linked to Tawde.
The incident occurred at a Virar hotel, where BVA members claimed Tawde was caught with cash. BVA leader Hitendra Thakur, along with his son Kshitij, alleged that Tawde was in possession of a bag containing a diary with details of Rs 15 crore earmarked for distribution. Thakur further claimed Tawde arrived with Rs 5 crore in cash. The situation intensified when Kshitij reportedly seized the diary, questioning Tawde’s presence in Virar after campaigning had officially ended the previous evening.
Following a three-hour standoff, a joint press conference involving Tawde, Thakur, his son Kshitij, and BJP candidate Rajan Naik was planned. However, EC officials halted the press conference, declaring it illegal. The police registered an FIR, and Tawde, along with Thakur and his son, left the hotel in a car, with Tawde stating they were heading for lunch.
Meanwhile, in a related political development, Suresh Padvi, BVA’s candidate for the Dahanu Assembly seat, joined the BJP on Tuesday, pledging support for BJP’s Vinod Mendha.
The BVA also raised concerns over non-functional CCTV cameras at the hotel, alleging that the footage was deliberately disabled to conceal the cash distribution. Thakur demanded action against the hotel, claiming it was part of a larger scheme to influence the election.
Sena UBT president Uddhav Thackeray weighed in on the controversy, recalling that his own bags had been checked during a visit to the region, but nothing was found. He criticized the state government, invoking recent incidents like the attack on NCP leader Anil Deshmukh, and prayed for the government’s downfall, citing the alleged corruption.
The BJP vehemently denied the accusations, calling them baseless and politically motivated. Senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar mocked the claims, saying it was absurd to suggest that Tawde, a national leader, would distribute money at such a local level.
