MUMBAI: In a explosive accusation ahead of the Maharashtra municipal elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) has charged the Bharatiya Janata Party with systematically distributing cash and goods to sway voters. Party leaders claim this blatant violation of electoral norms is underway across key urban bodies, threatening the integrity of the democratic process.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut led the charge, alleging that BJP workers are targeting vulnerable neighborhoods in Mumbai, Thane, and Pune. ‘They are handing out money packets and essential commodities like rice and oil to poor families, all in exchange for votes,’ Raut stated during a press conference. He shared purported videos and eyewitness accounts, vowing to lodge complaints with the Election Commission.
The controversy erupts as campaigning intensifies for the polls scheduled next month, which will decide control over 28 municipal corporations including the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Shiv Sena (UBT), still smarting from its 2022 split with Eknath Shinde’s faction, sees this as a desperate BJP tactic to consolidate power.
BJP leaders dismissed the claims as ‘baseless propaganda’ by a ‘losing side.’ Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekar Bawankule countered, ‘Shiv Sena UBT is fabricating stories because they know the people have rejected their divisive politics.’ He urged voters to focus on development records rather than ‘character assassination.’
Election observers note that such inducements, if proven, could lead to disqualifications and re-polls in affected wards. Past Maharashtra elections have seen similar allegations, but concrete evidence remains elusive. Shiv Sena (UBT) plans street protests and legal action to expose what they call a ‘cash-for-votes scam.’
As the battle lines sharpen, these allegations add fuel to an already fiery campaign. With alliances shifting and old rivalries reignited, Maharashtra’s urban electorate watches closely. Will the Election Commission intervene decisively, or will these claims fade into election noise? The coming days will tell.