A major political controversy has erupted in Thane after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) accused a police officer of escorting a rival candidate to the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The allegation comes just days after several Shiv Sena candidates won unopposed in the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) elections, raising questions about the fairness of the poll process.
Video Evidence Presented at Press Conference
During a press conference held on Sunday, MNS leader Avinash Jadhav played a video that he claimed showed Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Vikrant Ghag being taken to Shinde's residence in the Nitin Company area of Thane. Jadhav used this video to bolster the party's accusations that the ruling alliance is misusing state machinery to influence the civic polls.
The MNS leader has demanded an immediate inquiry into the incident captured in the video. He issued a stern warning, stating that the party would launch street protests if two election officers were not "replaced" within two days.
Allegations of Money Power and Official Meddling
The controversy follows the unopposed victories of several Shiv Sena candidates across key wards in the TMC. Both MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have pointed to these results as evidence of foul play.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Rajan Vichare joined Jadhav in alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction used money power and police machinery to sway the election. Vichare went further, claiming that officials and police helped reject nomination forms of opponents, thereby clearing the path for unopposed wins.
In a direct appeal to the public, Vichare urged the voters of Thane to "send these people home" in the upcoming polls, framing the election as a battle against unfair tactics.
Political Row Intensifies Ahead of Polls
This incident has significantly heightened political tensions in Thane, a crucial civic body. The allegations strike at the heart of electoral integrity, suggesting collusion between law enforcement and the political establishment.
The MNS's threat of protests adds a new dimension of public agitation to the ongoing political feud. The coming days will be critical to see if an inquiry is initiated or if the election officials are changed as demanded. The episode has cast a long shadow over the TMC election process, with opposition parties rallying to highlight what they call the misuse of official power.
