BJP’s Vinod Tawde Vs Rahul Gandhi Over C…

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

A huge controversy has erupted on Tuesday after Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) leader Hitendra Thakur accused BJP’s Vinod Tawde of allegedly distributing money to lure voters.

BJP’s Vinod Tawde and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (File)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Vinod Tawde said that Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi due to allegations of fraud by voting money involving the former before the polls for the Maharashtra legislative assembly elections, said leveling allegations without evidence. is the behavior of a small child.

Tawde further invited the Congress leaders to visit Nalasopara to check the CCTV footage of the hotel and prove the claims of money being distributed among the voters.

“@RahulGandhi Sir, you yourself came to Nalasopara, saw the CCTV footage of the hotel, saw all the KPU proceedings held there and proof that money came this way. If making such a statement without any information is not a minor, then what?” 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 it was those who looted people’s money and sent “you on the tempo”.

“Modiji, from SAFE is this 5 crores from whom? Who looted public money and sent you so fast?” Lok Sabha LoP said in a post on X.

Cash-For-Vote Allegations

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

“Some BJP leaders told me that BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde will come to Virar to pay Rs 5 crore to influence the voters. I thought a national leader like him would not neglect such a trivial task. But I saw him here. I requested him. Election Commission to take action against him and BJP,” Thakur said.

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

BJP’s denial

Tawde denied the allegations calling him absurd and baseless. He said, “A meeting of workers was held in the Nalasopara Assembly constituency, where we explained the code of conduct on the election day, such as how to close the voting machine, how the final seal should be applied, and the steps required in the case of objections. I have been there to explain things this.”

He further demanded an impartial investigation by the ECI.

BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi refuted the claim. He said, “In Maharashtra, baseless allegations were made as a last ditch effort by MVA…Vinod Tawde is our national secretary and looks after some party functions… The candidate for the constituency (Nalasopara) asked him to attend a meeting. He was passing by, so he agreed… The meeting was held to give instructions to the party workers about the polling process… We requested that the CCTV of the hotel and the surrounding area be checked… Rs. 5 crores cannot be pocketed do not make baseless accusations,”

Row Erupts

The accusations caused an uproar, with reactions from across the country’s political spectrum. A video shared by the Congress shows BVA supporters waving currency notes in front of Tawde.

“BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde was caught distributing money in a hotel in Maharashtra. Vinod Tawde took money in a bag and called people there and distributed the money,” the Congress said in a post on X.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray took a “jihad note” on Tawde’s claim of spreading money hours before the Maharashtra election.

Thackeray demanded strict action by the Election Commission of India, saying that merely registering a case against Tawde would not be enough.