Sanjay Raut Claims Mahayuti Spent Rs 150 Crore To Force MVA Withdrawals In MLC Polls

MUMBAI — Leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition on Friday criticized the ruling Mahayuti alliance, alleging that approximately Rs 150 crore was spent to force opposition candidates to withdraw from the Legislative Council (MLC) elections.

The allegations were raised in Mumbai following the unopposed election of six Mahayuti candidates to the Legislative Council. The development has sparked a significant political controversy, intensifying the rivalry between the Mahayuti and MVA coalitions.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Raut claimed that there was a scramble for unopposed elections and a "drama of withdrawals" during the MLC election period. Raut alleged that the ruling alliance spent at least Rs 150 crore in a single day for the purpose of securing these withdrawals.

Raut further alleged that the political deals that took place in this case were "lethal" to democracy. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader's comments point to allegations of major financial corruption and horse-trading in the state's legislative elections.

In addition to Raut's statements, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar targeted the NCP's Vikram K over the political developments.

The opposition alliance has expressed strong disapproval of the election's outcome, arguing that the unopposed victories of the six Mahayuti candidates were achieved through undemocratic financial influence. No response from the Mahayuti alliance regarding the bribery allegations was detailed.