BJP's rivals distributing money to win, says Maharashtra forest minister Ganesh Naik

NAVI MUMBAI: State forest minister and Palghar district guardian minister Ganesh Naik has alleged that his opponents are distributing money to woo voters in the Navi Mumbai Municipal election.Speaking in Navi Mumbai during the election campaign, Naik did not name Shiv Sena, which he described as the major opponent against BJP in the civic election, but said his party's rivals are using money to influence voters. However, he said, these tricks will not work as he knows the voters of Navi Mumbai can never be swayed by money. Explaining why the BJP did not enter into an alliance in Navi Mumbai, he said, "Had we struck a deal with the Shiv Sena to create an alliance in Navi Mumbai on the lines of neighbouring cities like Mumbai, Thane, Panvel and Kalyan Dombivli, it would have been injustice to BJP functionaries." Naik claimed that the BJP will make a clean sweep of the elections and that the next mayor would be from his party. Reacting to Naik's allegations, Shiv Sena deputy leader and retired IAS officer Vijay Nahata said money distribution was the tradition of those who were levelling allegations against his party.