Saris to silver bowls: Bribe talk deafens Mumbai ahead of BMC polls

MUMBAI: This past week, whispers had been circulating about heavyweight political parties distributing cash to voters for their support at Thursday's civic election. On Wednesday, the lid finally blew off the secret with innumerable instances of inducement coming to the fore across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and even a bribery FIR registered against four persons at Khandeshwar police station in Navi Mumbai.

From Dharavi, Kalina, Sion, Chembur and Borivli to Navi Mumbai, Thane, Vasai-Virar and Kalyan-Dombivli, citizens alleged leading parties were handing out envelopes in a cash-for-votes scam. Videos surfaced on social media showing quarrels breaking out between karyakartas over blatant disregard of law. Silver bowls, saris, and wads of banknotes were seen.


The EC's flying squad seized Rs 10 lakh cash from two two-wheelers on Tuesday in Nalasopara east. Even as groups of voters had expressed a desire to forgo voting owing to political disillusionment, Wednesday's revelation further weakened faith in a free and fair election.

Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut said, "Campaigning is over, but the governing party is doing something else... Saris are being distributed, money is being distributed... Rules are being violated. Illegally obtained money is being distributed... Marathi people need to recognise this." Congress neta Sachin Sawant said, "If corrupt people are not stopped today, democracy will continue to be destroyed. People from BJP in at Shant Nagar Jan Kalyan in Mumbai are distributing mixers..."

State election commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said: "I held a meeting with representatives of political parties 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."

Most allegations involved BJP followed by its partner, Eknath-Shinde-headed Shiv Sena. However, BJP Mumbai chief Ameet Satam said, "No BJP candidate or worker is indulging in this."

Voters in Sion alleged cash payouts by BJP candidate Shilpa Keluskar after a clip surfaced linking her husband to it. Keluskar said, "I do not wish to say anything..."

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. Why didn't they give me the same?" she asked. The party worker assured he would pay her on polling day.

A video of a fight surfaced from Kalyan-Dombivli. Omnath Natekar, husband of BJP candidate Arya Natekar, was campaigning in a housing society when an argument with Sena's Nitin and Ravi Patil turned violent, leaving him bleeding. Patils were arrested.