Mumbai: The whispers had been growing louder over the past week, the videos on social media gaining traction and angry comments. The day before Mumbai and its satellites vote in the civic polls, the lid blew off the open-secret scandal of cash being distributed to voters with a string of complaints against party workers and a bribery FIR against BJP functionaries in Navi Mumbai, forcing the election commission to address the issue.“I held a meeting with representatives of political parties on Wednesday. One of the issues they raised was money distribution. The IG (law & order) was also present. We have flying squads and surveillance teams in place. We have assured the parties of immediate action if there is any such incident,” said state election commissioner Dinesh Waghmare.From Dharavi, Kalina, Sion, Chembur and Borivli to Navi Mumbai, Thane, Vasai-Virar and Kalyan-Dombivli, citizens alleged that leading parties were handing out envelopes in a cash-for-votes scam. Videos on social media showed quarrels breaking out between ‘karyakartas’ over a blatant disregard for the law. Silver bowls, saris, and wads of banknotes were seen.The EC’s flying squad seized Rs 10 lakh in cash from two two-wheelers on Tuesday around 2am in Nalasopara east.Voting apathy already plagues Mumbai owing to political disillusionment. Wednesday’s complaints may have further weakened public faith in a free and fair civic election.Most allegations of bribery involved BJP, followed by its alliance partner, the Eknath- Shinde-led Shiv Sena. However, BJP Mumbai president Ameet Satam said, “None of the BJP candidates or workers are indulging in this.”The Opposition has alleged unprecedented money distribution during the ongoing election campaign. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, “Campaigning is over, but the ruling party is doing something else… Saris are being distributed, money is being distributed door-to-door… Election rules are being violated in Maharashtra. Illegally obtained money is being distributed… The Marathi people need to recognise this.“Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant alleged after posting a video on social media, “If corrupt people are not stopped today, democracy will continue to be destroyed. People from BJP in Ward No 3 at Shant Nagar, JanKalyan [Dahisar], are distributing mixers to the public to get votes for the party.”Voters in Pratiksha Nagar, Sion, alleged cash payouts by BJP candidate Shilpa Keluskar after a CCTV clip surfaced linking her husband Datta to it. “We caught people distributing cash. If your party has really worked, why is money being distributed?” asked Prakash Waghdhare, husband of Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Pranita.Keluskar rejoined, “I do not wish to say anything on this issue. Such allegations will keep coming.”In Chembur, Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged that the Shinde faction was buying votes. An activist claimed, “Their candidate was knocking on doors past midnight in Anand Nagar. We saw workers handing over papers they claimed were voter slips. We have filed a complaint with the EC.”Kalina Congress candidate Tulip Miranda said she had photo and video evidence of BJP nominee Jyoti Anil Upadhyay distributing Rs 500 to voters at Kunchikurve Nagar. Miranda said, “By the time I could reach the site, they fled.” Miranda went to file a police complaint in Vakola and accused election officials of laxity. But officials said they immediately sent a flying squad.Upadhyay accused Miranda of “maligning her by making wild allegations as she had no other issues to speak on”. “We are not ones to distribute money to people. We believe in solving their issues,” she said.A political flashpoint erupted in Borivli East late Tuesday after MNS supporters accused BJP candidate Seema Shinde of distributing cash at an event. Police and election officials inspected the premises, but did not recover any cash. BJP said it was MNS workers’ “stunt to please their leadership”.MNS leader Nayan Kadam said, “After informing officials, we went there as we believed money was being distributed there. But no cash was found,” he said.Organising a press meet with local BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyaya, Shinde said, “There is no cash to distribute. Everything was recorded — if anything wrong happened, they should show it.” Upadhyaya alleged that a group of 50-60 people tried to attack Shinde and used abusive language against her.A Kasturba Marg police officer said, “We found that a party was going on and people were dining, but there was no evidence of distribution of money. We have videographed the location. No FIR has been registered.”In Dharavi, Sena (UBT) candidate Joseph Manvel Koli claimed that two sacks filled with money were seized around 2.30am. “It is raining money in Dharavi, and the Election Commission is turning a blind eye,” he alleged. The accused here is a Shinde Sena contestant.In Navi Mumbai, MNS activists reportedly caught BJP men in Khandeshwar distributing money for the Panvel poll with the voters’ list. “BJP workers had ticked the names of voters who were ‘bribed’,” said MNS spokesperson Yogesh Chile. The EC’s flying squad filed a complaint. Sachin Pardeshi of Khandeshwar police station said, “An FIR has been registered under BNS Section 173 for bribery.”A resident of Panvel said BJP workers dropped off a Rs 2,500 envelope containing names of the candidates for Prabhag 15. “My mother received it and was frightened. We returned it. The same thing happened to our house help.”In Sector 9, Vashi, BJP workers allegedly intercepted a car, claiming that “crores of rupees was brought by a Shiv Sena activist for distribution to voters”. Police, however, said that no cash was found. Thane’s Vartak Nagar police detained two persons allegedly caught distributing cash under the guise of using EVM demo machines. However, police later clarified that no cash was seized. Bribery was also reported from ward 3 by an independent candidate.In fact, the have-nots were disappointed. Airoli resident Kajal (name changed) went to a party office demanding to know why her family hadn’t been paid like others in her chawl. “My neighbour said she got Rs 5,000 for five votes from her house. I too have five members. So why didn’t they give me the same?” she asked. The party worker assured he would pay her on polling day.In Wagle Estate, Thane (W), Poornima, a domestic help, said people in her pada have been promised Rs 1,000 per vote. “Last time, we got Rs 500. This time, they have increased the amount.”A viral video of a bloody fight surfaced from the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation elections. On Monday night, Omnath Natekar, husband of BJP candidate Arya Natekar, was campaigning in a housing society when a bribery argument with Shiv Sena’s Nitin and Ravi Patil turned violent, leaving him bleeding. The Patil brothers were arrested.In Kalyan, Sena (UBT) workers accused BJP nominee Vicky Tare of distributing money in panel 13. Tare refuted this. Ulhasnagar BJP accused Shiv Sena candidate Jamnu Puraswani of inducement, but police denied that money was handed out.
