Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a cash-for-vote controversy involving BJP leader Vinod Tawde in Maharashtra. The incident, which took place ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, sparked heated reactions from Congress and other opposition leaders.
On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi took to social media to criticize PM Modi, questioning the source of the alleged cash being distributed in Maharashtra. Referring to the BJP’s campaign slogan “Ek hain to safe hain,” which Modi and other BJP leaders have been using, Gandhi posted, “Modiji, from whose SAFE did these 5 crores come? Who looted the public’s money and sent you in the tempo?”
This jibe was in response to reports that Vinod Tawde, a senior BJP leader, was allegedly caught distributing money to party workers in a hotel in Nalasopara, Palghar district, ahead of the state elections.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also slammed the BJP over the issue. He criticized PM Modi’s claims of keeping Maharashtra “SAFE,” while BJP leaders are allegedly using money and muscle power to influence the elections. Kharge wrote on social media, “On one hand, there is a deadly attack on the former Home Minister of the state; on the other hand, a senior BJP leader is caught red-handed with Rs 5 crore in cash! This is not the ideology of Maharashtra; the public will answer this by voting tomorrow.”
He further added that Modi’s promise of a “safe” Maharashtra was based on “money power” and “muscle power,” a claim he said would be rejected by the people of the state in the elections.
In a video posted on social media, the Congress party highlighted the alleged incident where Vinod Tawde was seen holding a bag of money. The Congress accused the BJP of attempting to influence the elections through financial means. The party demanded that the Election Commission take swift action and investigate the matter.
The Congress statement read, “BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde has been caught distributing money in a hotel in Maharashtra. Tawde was seen with money, calling people over and giving them cash. This is happening just before the elections, and BJP leaders are busy influencing the voters with money. The Election Commission must take cognizance and act swiftly.”
In response to the allegations, Vinod Tawde denied the charges, stating that the meeting at the hotel was intended to brief Nalasopara MLAs on the Model Code of Conduct for Election Day. Tawde explained that the discussion was about how voting machines would be sealed and how objections could be raised if needed. He claimed that the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) party workers misinterpreted the meeting as money distribution.
Tawde stated, “I have been in the party for 40 years, and everyone knows me. Let the Election Commission and police investigate the matter, and review CCTV footage. I have no objection, and I am confident the investigation will clear me.”
The row has added to the tensions in the run-up to the Maharashtra Assembly elections, with both the Congress and BJP exchanging barbs over the issue. As voting approaches, the controversy has further polarized political discourse in the state, with the Congress party alleging that the BJP is resorting to unethical means to sway voters, while the BJP insists the matter is a baseless accusation and calls for an impartial investigation.
With the Election Commission set to investigate the claims, this latest development has added fuel to the already heated political environment in Maharashtra.
