BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde has issued a defamation notice to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate, demanding an apology over their recent allegations of him distributing money to influence voters in Maharashtra.
Tawde’s legal team sent a notice to the three Congress leaders, giving them an ultimatum to either apologize or face a ₹100 crore lawsuit. In the notice, Tawde has called for an unconditional apology, warning that criminal and civil cases will be filed for defamation if his name is not cleared.
The controversy erupted after Congress leaders accused Tawde of involvement in a “cash-for-votes” scandal on the eve of the Maharashtra elections. Rahul Gandhi took to social media, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the origins of the ₹5 crore in cash allegedly involved. He asked, “Modiji, from whose SAFE did these 5 crores come? Who looted the public’s money and sent you in the tempo?”
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also criticized PM Modi, saying that while the prime minister promises to safeguard Maharashtra with money and muscle power, BJP leaders like Tawde were allegedly caught red-handed with large sums of cash meant to sway voters.
The “cash-for-votes” allegations came to light a day before voting was set to take place across 288 constituencies in Maharashtra. On November 19, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) leader Hitendra Thakur claimed that Tawde was seen distributing ₹5 crore in cash to voters in Palghar district. A purported video of Tawde in a confrontation with BVA workers surfaced on social media, fueling the accusations.
Thakur alleged that some BJP leaders had informed him about Tawde’s actions in the Virar area. “I thought a national leader like him would not stoop to such tactics. But when I saw him, I realized the gravity of the situation,” Thakur said. He called on the Election Commission to take swift action against Tawde and the BJP. Thakur further claimed that the hotel where Tawde was staying had initially deactivated its CCTV cameras, only turning them back on after his team requested footage. He accused the hotel of being complicit in the alleged distribution of money.
However, Vinod Tawde has vehemently denied the charges, asserting that his visit to Virar was for an entirely different purpose. He clarified that he was attending a meeting with MLAs to brief them on the Model Code of Conduct and procedures for Election Day. Tawde stated, “I went there to explain the procedures related to voting, machine sealing, and how to address any objections during the election process.”
Tawde expressed confidence that an impartial investigation by the Election Commission and the police would clear his name. “I have been with the BJP for 40 years, and everyone in the party knows me,” Tawde said, challenging the claims made by Thakur and other BVA leaders.
As the row continues to unfold, the Election Commission has yet to comment on the matter, though Tawde has called for a thorough and fair investigation into the allegations.
