"Vinod Tawde is trying to buy voices of people": NCP-SCP leader Clyde Crasto

"It is very clear from the videos that have surfaced from Nalasopara that BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde was distributing money to get the votes. This is a serious offence. The elections are a part of democracy for the voice of the people and Vinod Tawde is trying to buy those voices of the people. I believe an FIR has been already registered, but it should not stop there. If he has committed this crime, then he needs to get arrested. The Election Commission of India should take this seriously... The people from the BJP have been associated wherever money has been recovered across Maharashtra in the last few days," said Clyde Crasto.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole also lashed out, saying, "We have been told that a diary was recovered from Vinod Tawde, which showed that Rs 10 crores had already been distributed. Rs 5 crores in cash was recovered from him yesterday as well. I hope the Election Commission has not made any new rules for BJP leaders. Action should be taken against them. They were earlier talking about vote jihad, but have now resorted to note jihad... No one is going to believe him and his excuses now... When election campaigning ended at 5 pm yesterday, why was Vinod Tawde distributing letters, as he says, to his party workers? ..."

Countering the statements made by the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) leaders, Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that the opposition has understood that they will get defeated in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections and thus opting for dirty tricks.

"Today, BJP National General Secretary, Vinod Tawde ji, was having a meeting with local party workers in Nalasopara to make them understand the do's and don'ts for tomorrow. At the same time, people from our opposition conspired against him and tried to defame Vinod Tawde ji and the BJP. The administration has taken cognisance of this incident, and they are investigating the matter. As a BJP leader, I would like to say that all these kinds of tactics are not going to work. The opposition has understood that they are losing the elections, and that is why they are doing all these dirty tricks," he added.

Notably, Vinod Tawde dismissed the charge levelled by BVA that the BJP was "distributing money" ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. (ANI)