Sena MLA Harshvardhan Jadhav: BJP offered Rs. 5cr to defect
Shiv Sena MLA Harshvardhan Jadhav has accused the BJP of horse-trading. In a shocking claim, he said BJP was offering Rs. 5cr each to Sena's 25 MLAs. Jadhav, representing Aurangabad's Kannad district, charged revenue minister Chandrakant Patil of luring him with money. Jadhav alleged that Patil had made the "offer" at the latter's official bungalow in Mumbai on October 27-28. Here's more!
Who is Harshvardhan Jadhav?
Jadhav, whose parents were also legislators, was elected as an MNS MLA in 2009. In 2011, he shot to (negative) limelight as he got into a fight for allegedly driving into then-CM Prithviraj Chavan's convoy; subsequently, when stopped, he assaulted the officer. Before 2014 elections, he shifted to Sena. In 2015, he resigned from the Assembly, protesting against the government's slow pace of working.
What are Jadhav's allegations against Chandrakant Patil?
Jadhav alleged that Chandrakant had told him about BJP being upset at the "constant bickering" by the Sena in the coalition government; thus, BJP was trying to get Sena MLAs to defect. BJP apparently assured to pay for Jadhav's re-election to the Assembly. If he failed to get re-elected, he would be accommodated in the state legislative council, when seats fall vacant in 2019.
As per Jadhav, what is BJP's plan?
Jadhav contended that if other Sena MLAs joined the BJP, then they would free themselves from Sena's trouble. He said though all Sena MLAs were approached, none of them would "fall for temptation." Incidentally, Jadhav is BJP state unit chief Raosaheb Patil's son-in-law.
What does this mean for the Sena-BJP relationship?
These allegations might further dampen Sena and BJP already fraught relationship. BJP had won 122 seats in the Legislative Assembly in 2014 elections. To attain the majority figure of 144, Sena, with 63 voters, had lent support. However, their relationship subsequently deteriorated with Sena criticizing Modi government's economic policies; later, BJP accused Sena of horse-trading when six of MNS' seven corporators joined the latter.
Meanwhile, Sena's Maharashtra ministers will campaign against BJP in Gujarat
Meanwhile, Sena prepares to contest Gujarat elections with about 60 seats. Many of Sena's Maharashtra ministers and leaders will campaign against ally BJP. Sena, known for its anti-Gujarati stance in 1960, has since softened its approach and given top posts to Gujaratis.
