Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reacted to the alleged Maharashtra cash-for-vote scandal involving BJP chief Vinod Tawde with a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying who looted the general public’s cash and despatched “you within the tempo”.
Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) members, led by Hitendra Thakur, at the moment claimed that Tawde arrived at a lodge handy over ₹5 crore to a BJP candidate in Maharashtra.
“Modiji, from whose SAFE did these 5 crores come? Who looted the general public’s cash and despatched you within the tempo?” Rahul Gandhi wrote on X.
Within the run-up to the 2024 common election, PM Modi had attacked the Congress, saying it was silent on crony capitalism as a result of tempo-loads of cash had reached the celebration. Rahul Gandhi then mentioned that the prime minister was talking with private expertise.
Thakur claimed he acquired the details about the alleged cash alternate from BJP leaders.
“Some BJP leaders knowledgeable me that BJP common secretary Vinod Tawde is coming to Virar to disburse ₹5 crore to affect voters. I assumed a nationwide chief like him wouldn’t stoop to such a trivial activity. However I noticed him right here. I urge the Election Fee to take motion in opposition to him and the BJP,” he mentioned.
Tawde, nevertheless, refuted the allegation. He mentioned he was prepared for a probe by the Election Fee.
“A gathering of MLAs of Nalasopara was underway. (We had been discussing) the Mannequin Code of Conduct for the day of voting, how voting machines can be sealed, and the way to proceed if an objection needs to be made. I went there to inform them about it. The celebration employees (Bahujan Vikas Aghadi), Appa Thakur and Kshitij, thought we had been distributing cash. Let the Election Fee and the police inquire, allow them to get CCTV footage. I’ve been on the celebration for 40 years. Appa Thakur and Kshitij know me, and your complete celebration is aware of me…Nonetheless, the Election Fee ought to conduct an neutral investigation,” he mentioned.
The deputy commissioner of police, Vasai, Pournima Chougule, mentioned they’ve registered two FIRs in reference to the row.
“BJP and Bahujan Vikas Aghadi employees had been current on totally different flooring right here. Some amount of cash and some diaries have been recovered from right here. Two FIRs have been registered, and a 3rd FIR can be being lodged for holding a press convention illegally. The scenario is beneath management,” she instructed ANI.
In the meantime, BJP MP and nationwide spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi known as the allegation baseless.
“In Maharashtra, a baseless allegation has been made as a final try by the MVA…Vinod Tawde is our nationwide secretary and is taking care of a number of capabilities of the celebration… The candidate of the (Nalasopara) constituency requested him to attend the assembly. He was passing close by, so he agreed… Such conferences are accomplished to instruct the celebration employees relating to the polling course of… We insist that the CCTV of the lodge and the close by areas be checked… Rs. 5 crores can’t be introduced in a pocket. It might be seen if somebody had been carrying it… They need to present proof and never make baseless allegations,” he mentioned.
With inputs from PTI, ANI
