Shiv Sena vs BJP fight gets bitter ahead of local body elections in Maharashtra

“This is not limited to one house. There are 8 to 10 more houses involved. We have video evidence of their activities. This is not the way to fight elections,” Nilesh said during a live broadcast on Instagram.

Later, speaking to the media, Nilesh said, “The bag was full of cash. And the cash at the residence of a BJP worker was unearthed shortly after state BJP president Ravindra Chavan’s Konkan tour.” Nilesh Rane joined the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

Defending the find from his house, BJP worker Vijay Kenwadekar said, “The money in my house was meant for business. It had nothing to do with the elections.”

Putting a strong defence for the BJP, Nilesh’s younger brother and cabinet minister Nitesh Rane said, “Even if we are members of a political party, we still pursue our personal life and profession. We finely balance our politics, social work and private life. Vijay Kenvadekar is a BJP worker and also does business. If he has kept cash at his home, what’s wrong with it?”

In a stern warning and clear indication of alliance rift, involving the two brothers who are sons of BJP MP and former Union minister Narayan Rane, minister Nitesh added, “Hamaam mein hum sab nange hain (in bath everybody is naked)… By making baseless allegations against Ravindra Chavan, Shiv Sena is doing dirty politics. Just because Chavan came to Konkan for a campaign does not mean he brought money for votes. If that is the logic, we can even question the Sena leaders and ministers’ tour in Konkan. Sena minister Uday Samant had also come for a poll campaign. But we did not create any trouble.”

Adding that the BJP does not believe in contesting polls through unethical means, Nitesh said, “It has a strong leader like PM Narendra Modi at the Centre and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Maharashtra in whom people have trust. We are confident of victory… if there are any complaints, it would be looked into by the Election Commission and police.”

Categorically denying the money distribution allegation, Chavan said, “I am displaying my patience as I have ensured the alliance till the local bodies elections on December 2. After that I will give a befitting reply.”

BJP rubbished the charges with senior leader and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule saying, “The question is how could Nilesh Rane barge into someone’s home. Is it appropriate to go into somebody’s bedroom and claim it is a sting operation? The entire issue should be investigated to bring the facts.”

Another BJP minister Ashish Shelar dismissed charges saying, “All the charges made by Nilesh against BJP workers are baseless.”

In another instance, BJP MLA Tanaji Mutkule alleged that Shiv Sena MLA Santosh Bangar took Rs 50 crore to shift allegiance from the Uddhav Thackeray camp to Eknath Shinde-led faction when Shiv Sena split in 2022. Mutkule said, “It is a fact that Bangar cannot live without money. And he bargained for fifty boxes (Rs 50 cr) to join Shiv Sena led by Shinde.”

However, the Sena MLA said, “He (Mutkule) faced charges of sexual harassment but made his driver accept those charges and rescued himself. He is a blot on his party because of his misdeeds.”

Earlier, Shiv Sena MLC Hemant Patil said that police carried out a raid at Bangar’s Kalamanuri residence in the early hours. “The raid was carried out under pressure from BJP (MLA) without giving any prior intimation to the Sena leader. The BJP is adopting such intimidation tactics as Shiv Sena is strong in Hingoli district.”

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