Shiv Sena accuses BJP of using ED, EC against rivals; BJP rubbishes claim

After the debacle in the Rajya Sabha polls, Shiv Sena accused BJP of using central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and Election Commission against its political rivals. Shiv Sena's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut claimed BJP used central agencies to threaten and intimidate MLAs of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government into voting for BJP candidate Dhananjay Mahadik.

"We know of phone calls going from the (Union) home ministry to the Election Commission. We know of conversations taking place on votes that should be disqualified. The central agencies like ED were used against our MLAs. We also have our agencies. However, we don't have ED with us. If we had, then even Devendra Fadnavis would (have been forced) to vote for MVA," Raut said.

Raut asked why the EC took seven hours to decide complaints made by BJP on disqualification of votes.


State BJP chief Chandrakant Patil rubbished Raut's claim and said: "MVA is using state agencies, they foist cases on people. They put Union minister Narayan Rane in jail without any crime being committed."

An angry Shiv Sena, according to sources, has told both Congress and NCP that the two parties should make their own arrangements in the MLC polls. Shiv Sena has blamed Congress and NCP for not doing enough during the Rajya Sabha polls. NCP and Congress are expected to mollify Shiv Sena in time for the MLC polls that are to be held on June 20.

State NCP chief and minister Jayant Patil said it was 'natural' for chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to be 'angry'. "There is no discord between us. For some reason 4-5 Independent MLAs supporting us didn't vote for us. However, the CM must have got a clarfication as to why we lost," said Patil. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, when asked about the Sena anger and the party's signal to on MLC polls, said: 'We will discuss it in the party."