NEW DELHI: BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde has filed a defamation notice against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and NCP leader Supriya Sule following allegations of “cash-for-vote” activities. The controversy began after workers from the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) accused Tawde of distributing money during a meeting in Palghar, ahead of the Maharashtra elections. They claimed to have caught Tawde in the act of handing out cash. Tawde, however, denied the allegations, explaining that the money found in the hotel was meant for the party workers’ meals and called for an impartial investigation by the Election Commission to clear his name.
In his defamation notice, Tawde has demanded that both Kharge and Sule retract their statements, accusing them of making false claims that have damaged his reputation. Tawde, a prominent figure in Maharashtra’s political landscape, expressed his intention to seek legal recourse to protect his integrity. He further requested the Election Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and make the findings public.
The defamation notice and the ongoing investigation have added fuel to the political drama leading up to the Maharashtra elections. While opposition parties, including Congress and NCP, have been calling for strict action in light of the allegations, Tawde and the BJP have denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the accusations are baseless.
As the political climate grows tense ahead of the elections, both sides are digging in their heels. The controversy highlights the high stakes of the upcoming state polls, with both the ruling BJP and the opposition parties accusing each other of misconduct.
