November 19, 2024: A confrontation erupted in Virar East today between Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) members and BJP representatives after allegations surfaced that BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde arrived at a local hotel with ₹5 crore to bribe voters ahead of the ongoing elections.

The incident occurred at the Vivanta Hotel, where Tawde was meeting with BJP’s Nalasopara constituency candidate, Rajan Naik. BVA activists, led by Nalla Sopara MLA Kshitij Thakur, accused Tawde of attempting to distribute money to influence voters in favor of Naik. According to Thakur, the BVA workers intercepted the meeting and raised alarms about alleged vote-buying.

However, Tawde firmly denied the charges, calling them a baseless attempt to tarnish his reputation. "I had stopped at the hotel to discuss the polling process and the election code of conduct with our candidate, Rajan Naik," Tawde explained. "I had a brief meeting, and just as I was about to leave, BVA workers arrived and wrongly assumed that money was being distributed."

Tawde emphasized that when Election Commission (EC) officials arrived at the scene, they thoroughly checked his vehicle but found no evidence of any cash or illicit activity. "Let there be a full investigation into these allegations," he added, challenging the opposition to substantiate their claims.

Despite the confrontation, no money was found during the vehicle inspection by EC personnel, and Tawde’s BJP colleagues also defended him, suggesting that the BVA was attempting to fabricate a false narrative. "These are just baseless allegations. The BVA is trying to create controversy and divert attention from their own shortcomings," a BJP spokesperson said.

The clash between the two political parties escalated when BVA workers disrupted Tawde’s meeting, accusing the BJP of attempting to manipulate the electoral process. However, BJP leaders strongly rejected the accusation, labeling it as a politically motivated smear campaign by the BVA.

The tension between the BJP and BVA comes as both parties intensify their campaigns in the region ahead of crucial elections. The matter is expected to escalate further as both sides prepare for a battle at the polls, with each accusing the other of resorting to unfair tactics.

As of now, the Election Commission is reportedly investigating the incident, but no official statements have been released. Political observers believe that this spat could have significant implications for the Nalasopara constituency, which is closely contested.