MNS Leader Levels Explosive Allegation of Cash-for-Votes in Chandrapur Mayoral Election
In a dramatic development that has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra's political landscape, senior Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Sandeep Deshpande made a sensational allegation on Thursday. Deshpande claimed that Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators were each paid a staggering Rs 1 crore to support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the crucial mayoral election, directly enabling the saffron party's candidate to secure victory in the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation.
Background of the Political Alliance and Emerging Tensions
This allegation comes against the backdrop of a significant political realignment. Just last month, Shiv Sena (UBT) contested the civic body elections in Mumbai in alliance with the MNS, marking a historic reconciliation between Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray. These cousins had been politically estranged for years, making their renewed cooperation a major talking point in state politics.
Despite this Mumbai alliance, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party remains a core constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, alongside the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction). The Chandrapur developments have now exposed serious fractures within this opposition front.
The Controversial Chandrapur Election Outcome
The political storm erupted after the BJP, with the crucial backing of Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators, managed to get its mayoral candidate elected in Chandrapur Municipal Corporation. This occurred despite the Congress emerging as the single largest party in the civic polls, creating a situation where the grand old party lost the mayoral election by just one vote.
"Every Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator received Rs 1 crore in Chandrapur, apart from other offers. An independent corporator was given Rs 50 lakh," declared Deshpande, who serves as the MNS' Mumbai unit chief. Both Shiv Sena (UBT) and the BJP have categorically rejected these allegations as baseless and politically motivated.
Political Hypocrisy and Counter-Allegations
Deshpande further intensified his attack by accusing the Uddhav Thackeray-led outfit of double standards. He pointed out that Shiv Sena (UBT) had criticized the MNS when its local leadership in Kalyan-Dombivli extended support to the rival Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde following civic elections. Senior Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut had specifically condemned that move.
"They cry foul when MNS supports BJP but deem it 'correct behaviour' when Sena (UBT) itself does the same," Deshpande remarked, highlighting what he characterized as political hypocrisy.
Defiant Responses and Demands for Proof
Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Chandrapur district president Sandeep Girhe issued a strong rebuttal to Deshpande's allegations. "I will resign if the MNS leader produces proof that corporators had received money," Girhe challenged. He also accused local Congress leaders of insulting Sena (UBT) functionaries in the district, suggesting this contributed to the political fallout.
Meanwhile, Deshpande turned his attention to senior Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, questioning whether the prominent politician had been deliberately kept uninformed or had chosen to "wear a blindfold" during the controversial developments in Chandrapur.
Internal Opposition Discord and Leadership Intervention
In a significant development, Raut met with MNS president Raj Thackeray in Mumbai on Thursday. Speaking to reporters afterward, he placed the blame squarely on the Congress for the Chandrapur setback. Raut asserted that the Congress should have engaged in more serious discussions with local Sena (UBT) corporators to secure their support.
According to Raut's account, local Congress factions led by MP Pratibha Dhanorkar and Vijay Wadettiwar failed to reach a "consensus" regarding the mayoral candidate. The Rajya Sabha MP revealed that he had personally discussed the matter with senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal in an attempt to resolve the impasse.
"Uddhav Thackeray is personally looking into it. Corporators from Chandrapur will be summoned to Mumbai in a day or two," Raut disclosed. "Uddhav Thackeray's stand was that under no circumstances should the party do anything that will help the BJP, and that stand continues even today."
Election Results and Broader Political Implications
The final election outcome saw BJP's Sangeeta Khandekar win the Chandrapur mayoral election by that crucial single vote, defeating Congress candidate Vaishali Mahadule. In a further twist, Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Prashant Danav was elected deputy mayor of the municipal corporation.
This development has raised profound questions about opposition unity and the long-term viability of the MVA alliance. Chandrapur represented one of the few municipal corporations where the Congress emerged as the single largest party and had been widely expected to secure the mayor's post.
In the elections to the 66-member civic body, the Congress secured 27 seats, followed closely by the BJP with 23 seats. The narrow margin and subsequent political maneuvering have exposed the fragile nature of opposition coalitions in Maharashtra, potentially reshaping political calculations ahead of future elections.
