BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde has been accused by regional organization Bahujan Vikas Aghadi of distributing cash to voters in Palghar, a charge denied by Tawde and the BJP.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday took a dig at note jihad amid allegations by a senior BJP leader about distribution of money, hours before voting began for the Maharashtra Assembly elections. BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde has been accused by regional organization Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) of distributing cash to voters in Palghar, a charge denied by Tawde and the BJP. Thackeray demanded strict action from the Election Commission of India, saying merely registering a case against Tawde would not be enough.
Taking a dig at the slogans raised by BJP leaders like ‘Batenge to Katenge’ and claims of “vote jihad”, Thackeray asked whether this is BJP’s note jihad (for votes)? ‘Divide and conquer’. The whole of Maharashtra has seen it. Maharashtra will decide tomorrow. Thackeray said Tawde was appreciated for helping in toppling governments and forming new governments in some states. Now the secret behind this has come out openly.
There was high drama at a hotel in Virar, where Tawde was staying, when Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) chief Hitendra Thakur accused the BJP general secretary of distributing money to voters. The BJP denied these claims and Tawde claimed that he was in Nalasopara to guide party workers about the election procedures, and challenged the opposition parties to verify his activities.