– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: With the Maharashtra Assembly elections scheduled for November 20, a major controversy erupted after senior BJP leader and National General Secretary Vinod Tawde was caught red-handed with ₹5 crore in cash in a Mumbai hotel. The Congress has accused the BJP of blatant misuse of money power and demanded immediate action, calling on the Election Commission of India (ECI) to act decisively.
Addressing the media at the AICC headquarters, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate described the incident as a brazen assault on democracy. She presented visuals showing Tawde caught with wads of cash and a diary documenting transactions worth ₹15 crore. The seizure, which occurred just a day before the polls, has sparked allegations of electoral malpractice.
Shrinate highlighted that Tawde was found in Virar East, a constituency he does not belong to, and where no outsider is allowed to remain once campaigning ends.
“What was Tawde doing in a hotel with ₹5 crore in cash and a diary detailing ₹15 crore in transactions? Who was this money intended for? Why has ECI remained silent on this blatant misuse of money?” she questioned.
Shrinate further criticised the BJP’s alleged abuse of financial power, linking it to broader concerns about the transparency of government projects. She pointed out that last year, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) abruptly halted compliance audits of several projects, raising suspicions about undisclosed irregularities.
The Congress spokesperson accused the BJP of stealing popular mandates through horse-trading and bribery, undermining the sanctity of elections in Maharashtra.
“This government came into power by stealing the people’s mandate, engaging in horse-trading and buying MLAs. Now, they are deploying money power to influence elections. The people of Maharashtra must rise against this,” Shrinate said.
Shrinate also took aim at the ECI, urging it to demonstrate independence and act swiftly against Tawde.
“This is not a small-time leader – this is the BJP’s National General Secretary caught on camera with cash. The Election Commission must act and show that it is not a mute spectator. We demand immediate action to restore faith in the electoral process,” she stated.
The Congress reminded the ECI that it had previously reported ₹1,000 crore in seizures during the Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections, a figure seven times higher than in 2019.
The Congress also linked the cash seizure to the CAG’s decision in October 2023 to halt performance and compliance audits, which could have exposed government scams.
“What uncomfortable truths were being hidden by stopping these audits? Which projects were being audited, and who ordered the audits to be stopped? The people of Maharashtra have a right to know,” Shrinate demanded.
Shrinate concluded by accusing the BJP of weaponising money, muscle power, and institutions to serve its political agenda. She called for transparency and accountability in the electoral process, stressing the need for decisive action to ensure free and fair elections.
“The brazen use of money and power must not be allowed to subvert the will of the people. The Election Commission must act now, and the people of Maharashtra deserve answers,” she said.
The Congress’s demand for action has intensified the scrutiny of electoral practices in Maharashtra, with the BJP yet to respond to the allegations.
