Supporters of the Thakur family, whose patriarch is BVA president Hitendra Thakur (right), claimed to have caught Tawde (left) distributing cash at a hotel in Virar East. (Photos: Video screengrab/ X)
AS BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde found himself in a poll-eve controversy in Maharashtra Tuesday, after allegedly being caught with cash, on the other side stood a familiar name – the powerful Thakur family of Vasai-Virar.
Supporters of the family, which is no stranger to controversy itself, claimed to have caught Tawde distributing cash at a hotel in Virar East.
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The Thakur family patriarch, Hitendra Thakur, a six-time MLA from Vasai, heads the Bahujan Vanchit Aghadi (BVA), which holds significant influence in the semi-urban regions of Virar, Vasai, and Nalasopara in Palghar district. The family’s vast business interests extend into nearly every local enterprise.
There are three BVA MLAs in the outgoing Maharashtra Assembly, including Hitendra’s son Kshitij Thakur, a three-time MLA from Nalasopara, and Rajesh Patil, a two-time MLA from Boisar.
Hitendra’s brother Bhai Thakur is also a known figure, being a convicted gangster with alleged links to Dawood Ibrahim.
After the 2019 elections, the BVA had extended its support to the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. However, the two had a falling out, with the BVA accusing MVA leaders of arrogance and inaccessibility, particularly over the appointment of an administrator to the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation.
Then, starting February 2021, the Thakur family found itself under Enforcement Directorate scrutiny in connection with a probe into the alleged Rs 6,200 crore fraud involving Housing Development Infrastructure Limited (HDIL) and the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank.
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Come June 2022, the family shifted its allegiance to the BJP during the Rajya Sabha elections, with the shake-up triggered by that eventually contributing to the collapse of the MVA government and its replacement with the BJP-Shiv Sena government soon after.
However, since then, the Thakur family’s relationship with the BJP too has soured. In this election, the BVA’s Kshitij Thakur is facing the Congress’s Vijay Patil and the BJP’s Sneha Dube Pandit in his Nalasopara seat.
Kshitij too has had his share of run-ins with the law. Having grown up mostly outside the state, and educated in the US, he had a very public altercation in 2013 with a police officer on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. This confrontation escalated, resulting in a privilege motion against the police officer, followed by an assault on him by MLAs inside the Maharashtra Assembly.
Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas:
Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai.
Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC).
Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai).
Trustworthiness & Credibility
Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence.
Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers).
Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports.
He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More
