Mumbai:

Hours before Maharashtra votes, a regional party has accused BJP leaders, including general secretary and former minister Vinod Tawde, of distributing cash a hotel in Virar in Palghar district. 

The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi has alleged that BJP candidate from Nalasopara Rajan Naik was distributing cash, allegedly to influence voters, in the presence of Mr Tawde. Kshitij Thakur, sitting MLA and Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, reached the hotel with his supporters and high drama followed. The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi supporters gheraoed Mr Tawde and raised slogans. They claimed that they found envelopes with cash and diaries at the meeting venue. Viral videos show Bahujan Vikas Aghadi supporters waving currency notes in front of Mr Tawde.

BJP के राष्ट्रीय महासचिव विनोद तावड़े महाराष्ट्र के एक होटल में पैसे बांटते हुए पकड़े गए हैं।

विनोद तावड़े बैग में भरकर पैसे लेकर गए थे और वहां पर लोगों को बुला-बुलाकर पैसे बांट रहे थे।

ये खबर जब जनता को पता चली तो भारी हंगामा हो गया। पैसों के साथ विनोद तावड़े के कई वीडियो… pic.twitter.com/iqbMcGJtyQ

— Congress (@INCIndia) November 19, 2024

The Congress has shared a video from the hotel and accused the BJP of trying to use money power to influence the election. “Even top leaders are involved. The Election Commission should take note and strict action,” the Congress said in a post on X.

The BJP has trashed the allegations and termed them “baseless” and a political stunt by the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi on the eve of elections. The party said Mr Tawde was at the hotel for a meeting with party workers to discuss poll preparations. The BJP has said the Election Commission must investigate the matter and scan CCTV footage to get to the root of the matter. “This is nothing but a gimmick,” a BJP leader said.

Maharashtra votes on Wednesday in what is expected to be a very exciting electoral contest. In the last Assembly election, the NDA alliance of BJP and undivided Shiv Sena had scored a thumping victory, winning 161 seats in the 288-member Assembly. However, the long-time allies parted ways due to differences over rotational Chiefministership. Soon after, Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray tied up with the Congress and Sharad Pawar’s NCP to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

This government toppled in 2022 when Eknath Shinde led a mutiny that split the Shiv Sena. The Shinde Sena joined hands with the BJP. Later, Ajit Pawar’s rebellion divided the NCP ranks too. The junior Pawar then joined the ruling coalition. In this election, the two factions of Shiv Sena and NCP are on opposite sides of the political divide, making it a prestige contest.

In the Lok Sabha election earlier this year, the Opposition bloc of Congress-Sena UBT-NCP (Sharad Pawar) scored big by winning 30 out of Maharashtra’s 48 seats. The Mahayuti won 17 seats. This time, the Maha Vikas Aghadi is looking to clinch a big win, while Mahayuti has gone all out to make a comeback from the Lok Sabha setback.

Mumbai:

A hike in the monthly assistance to women under the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a plan to make Maharashtra an Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub and price control for essential items are among the highlights of the BJP’s manifesto for the upcoming Assembly polls.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the ruling party’s manifesto, ‘Sankalp Patra’, in Mumbai today. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Union Minister Piyush Goyal were present at the launch. Maharashtra votes on November 20 and the Mahayuti ruling coalition of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP (Ajit Pawar) is looking to retain power in what is likely to be an exciting ballot battle.

Speaking at the launch of the manifesto, Mr Shah said the Mahayuti government worked for the dignity of farmers, the poor and women. The manifesto, he said, reflects the aspirations of the people of Maharashtra. “Maharashtra has been leading the country in every field for many ages. Once upon a time, when there was a need, the Bhakti movement also started from Maharashtra, the movement for freedom from slavery was also started by Shivaji Maharaj from here, the social revolution also started from here and the reflection of the aspirations of the people of Maharashtra is seen in our Sankalp Patra,” he said.

The Home Minister slammed the Opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar). “Even Congress leaders have to say they should make promises after thinking a lot, because they promise and then answer later. There is Himachal, Telangana, Karnataka, in all of these states they have not fulfilled their promises there. Everyone believes in the promises of Mahayuti,” he said.

The BJP manifesto promises to hike the monthly assistance under the Ladki Bahin scheme from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100. It also assures farmers of a hike in loan waiver and says it will ensure food security and proper accommodation if it returns to power. The old age pension will be hiked to Rs 2,100 per month and prices of essential commodities will be stabilised, the manifesto says.

The BJP has also promises 25 lakh new jobs and Rs 10,000 stipend for 10 lakh students. It has promised new roads in over 45,000 villages and a 30 per cent reduction in power bills with a focus on renewable energy.

‘Vision Maharashtra @2028’, the BJP manifesto said, will be presented within 100 days of government formation and the goal is to make Maharashtra a 1 trillion dollar economy. Maharashtra is the largest economy among states and had a GSDP of $435 billion in 2022-23. 

“Make in Maharashtra will make the state fintech and AI capital Cities like Nagpur, Pune, Nashik will become aerospace hubs,” the document says.

In another promise focusing on women, the party said 50 lakh women in Maharashtra will become Lakhpati Didis by 2027. The Sankalp Patra also promised efforts to provide AI training in government schools, a skill Census, support to entrepreneurs, financial assistance to students from backward communities and health insurance for the people.

The BJP also promised a law against forced conversions and said it will use technology to prevent man-animal conflict.

Mumbai:

The Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP are brainstorming over seat-sharing for the upcoming Assembly polls in Maharashtra, sources have said. According to the sources, the BJP may contest between 140 and 150 seats in the 288-member House. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is likely to contest 80 seats and Ajit Pawar’s NCP may fight 55 seats, sources said. Three seats have been set aside for smaller allies.

The NDA Mahayuti alliance faces the formidable Opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Congress, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and NCP the faction led by Sharad Pawar. In the Lok Sabha election months back, the Maha Vikas Aghadi pulled off a stellar show, winning 30 out of the 48 parliamentary seats in the state. The Mahayuti, which managed 17 seats, will be looking to make a comeback in the state polls, expected this winter.

In the 2019 Maharashtra polls, the alliance of BJP and undivided Shiv Sena had scored a thumping win. The long-term allies then parted ways over the Chief Minister post and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray tied up with the Congress and NCP to form the government.

In 2022, a mutiny led by top Sena leader Eknath Shinde toppled the Uddhav Thackeray government. Mr Shinde then tied up with the BJP to form the state government. In another setback to the Maha Vikas Aghadi, NCP leader Ajit Pawar led a rebellion against his uncle and veteran politician Sharad Pawar, leading to a split in the party.

The Lok Sabha results, however, saw Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, both losing their party’s name and symbol, script a comeback. The two leaders said the poll results showed which is the “real” Sena and NCP.

Against this backdrop, this state election is likely to be a tough fight for the BJP-led alliance as it tries to bounce back from the setback it suffered in the general election.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi is yet to announce their seat-sharing arrangement and the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP are likely to bargain hard following the good showing in the Lok Sabha polls.