Palghar district guardian minister and state forest minister Ganesh Naik has made a serious allegation against his political opponents, claiming they are resorting to distributing money to attract voters in the ongoing Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) election campaign.
Allegations of Financial Influence in Civic Polls
While addressing an election rally in Navi Mumbai, Minister Ganesh Naik did not directly name the Shiv Sena but described it as the primary opponent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in this civic battle. He asserted that his party's rivals are attempting to use financial incentives to sway the electorate. However, Naik expressed confidence that such tactics would fail, stating he knows the voters of Navi Mumbai cannot be influenced by money.
BJP's Stand on Alliances and Confidence of Victory
Explaining the BJP's decision to contest the Navi Mumbai polls alone, Naik provided a clear rationale. He said that forming an alliance with the Shiv Sena in Navi Mumbai, similar to the partnerships in neighboring civic bodies like Mumbai, Thane, Panvel, and Kalyan-Dombivli, would have been an injustice to the BJP's local functionaries and their hard work.
Displaying high optimism, the minister predicted a decisive victory for his party. Naik claimed the BJP would make a clean sweep in the elections and confidently stated that the next mayor of Navi Mumbai would be from the BJP.
Shiv Sena's Sharp Rebuttal
The allegations did not go unanswered. Shiv Sena's deputy leader and retired IAS officer, Vijay Nahata, swiftly reacted to Naik's claims. In a pointed retort, Nahata turned the tables by suggesting that money distribution is actually the tradition of those who are now leveling accusations against his party. This counter-allegation sets the stage for a heated contest as the election campaign intensifies.
The exchange of allegations highlights the high stakes involved in the Navi Mumbai civic polls, with both major parties vying for control of the important municipal corporation. As the campaign progresses, voters will be watching to see if these charges develop further or influence the electoral outcome.
