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BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi on Tuesday dismissed as "baseless" the allegations over the party's national general secretary Vinod Tawde "distributing money" ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, calling it a last-ditch attempt by the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.
"In Maharashtra, a baseless allegation has been made as a last desperate ditch attempt by the MVA. Vinod Tawde is our National Secretary and is looking after several functions of the party," Sudhanshu Trivedi said in a press conference. The Opposition parties attacked the BJP after workers of the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA), alleging money distribution, created a ruckus on Tuesday outside a hotel in the Nalasopara assembly constituency of Palghar district, where BJP leaders, including Vinod Tawde, were holding a meeting. Rejecting the allegation, Sudhanshu Trivedi insisted that the hotel's CCTV footage should be checked to verify the truth behind the claims. "The candidate of the (Nalasopara) constituency asked him to attend the meeting. He was passing from nearby, so he agreed. Such meetings are done to instruct the party workers regarding the polling process. We insist that the CCTV of the hotel and the nearby areas be checked. Rs. 5 crores cannot be brought in a pocket. It would be visible if someone were carrying it. They should show proof and not make baseless allegations," Trivedi said. Vinod Tawde has dismissed the allegations raised against him. "A meeting of MLAs of Nalasopara was underway. I went there to tell them about the Model Code of Conduct for the day of voting, how will voting machines be sealed and how to go about if an objection has to be made. The workers of the party (Bahujan Vikas Aghadi), Appa Thakur and Kshitij thought that we were distributing money. Let the Election Commission and Police inquire, let them get CCTV footage. I have been in the party for 40 years. Appa Thakur and Kshitij know me, and the entire party knows me. Still, I believe that the Election Commission should conduct an impartial investigation," Tawde said. Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the BJP over the issue and said that "the public will answer this by voting tomorrow". "Modi Ji wants to make Maharashtra "SAFE" with "Money Power" and "Muscle Power"! On one hand, there is a deadly attack on the former Home Minister of the state, on the other hand, a senior BJP leader is caught red-handed with Rs 5 crore in cash! This is not the ideology of Maharashtra; the public will answer this by voting tomorrow!" Kharge said in a post on X. The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20. The counting of votes will take place on November 23. (ANI)
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