Mumbai: A day before the polling for the Maharashtra assembly elections, a high voltage drama took place in Virar as the BVA and BJP activists clashed in the presence of BJP leader Vinod Tawde. BJP's General Secretary Tawde has been accused by the rival BVA leader Hitendra Thakur of distributing cash for votes.
The video of the ruckus has between the BJP and BVA workers has surfaced on the internet.
BVA leader and sitting MLA Hitendra Thakur alleged that Vinod Tawde was distributing Rs 5 crore cash carried in a bag to BJP workers in the meeting. The leader claim that the police have recovered a diary with notings of money distribution.
The incident took place at Vivanta Hotel in Virar, where along with Vinod Tawde, BJP candidate Rajendra Naik's son was present, reports say.
Tawde, a senio BJP leader has denied the allegations.
The opposition leaders have seized the opportunity to slam the BJP for vote management. Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut took a jibe at the Election Commission saying that Thakurs (referring to BVA leaders Hitendra and Kshitij Thakur) did what the Election Commission should have done, while the poll body was busy checking the opposition leaders' bags.
While, BJP leaders have come in rescue of their party general secretary Vinod Tawde saying the latter was holding a meeting ahead of the election and allegations of money distribution are false. As per reports, BJP spokesperson Manoj Barot said that this is a BVA's stunt and Vinod Tawde had come to meet the workers for poll planning. If there is an allegation of distribution of money then the Election Commission should investigate it, all the CCTV footage of the hotel can be be checked, he said.
The voting for the 288 assemblies in Maharashtra will be held tomorrow, November 20. As per the Election Commission's rules, the poll campaigning has stopped from Monday, 6 pm and no political events which could influence the voters are permitted.
