BJP Leader Vinod Tawde Sends Defamation Notice to Congress Leaders Over Cash-for-Votes Allegations

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Vinod Tawde on Friday issued a defamation notice to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate. The notice follows their recent allegations accusing him of distributing money to influence voters in Maharashtra.

According to reports, Tawde's lawyer sent a legal notice demanding an apology from the three Congress leaders. He warned that if they fail to apologize, he will initiate legal proceedings for ₹100 crore in damages. Tawde has also threatened to pursue both criminal and civil cases for defamation unless an unconditional apology is issued.

The controversy erupted a day before the state elections, when the cash-for-votes allegations were made public. On November 19, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) leader Hitendra Thakur accused Tawde of distributing ₹5 crore to voters in Palghar district. Thakur claimed that Tawde was staying at a hotel where CCTV footage was initially disabled, allegedly to conceal the distribution of money. The footage was reportedly activated only after BVA workers requested it.

Reacting to these allegations, Tawde denied any wrongdoing. He explained that he had been attending a meeting with MLAs from Nalasopara to discuss election-related matters, including the Model Code of Conduct and the sealing of voting machines. Tawde refuted claims of bribery, insisting that the incident was a misunderstanding. He challenged the Election Commission and the police to investigate the matter, confident that an impartial inquiry would clear his name.

The controversy has also drawn sharp criticism from Congress leaders. Rahul Gandhi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the origin of the alleged ₹5 crore, while Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of using money and muscle power to influence the elections.

As the cash-for-votes row continues to unfold, Tawde's defamation notice signals his intent to take legal action against those making unsubstantiated claims, while also calling for an independent investigation into the matter.