Mumbai: Arrayed against the combined might of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the on-going round of Zilla Parishad (ZP) and Panchayat Samiti (PS) elections, smelling the proverbial rat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday rushed to State Election Commission of Maharashtra (SECM) complaining against newly sworn-in Congress Minister for Women and Child Development, Yashomati Thakur over her alleged controversial comment at a election rally in Washim calling upon people to accept money from the opposition and not to say no to “Laxmi” (money) coming there way.
Senior BJP leader and National Executive committee member, Dr Kirit Somaiya dashed off a complaint to SECM Election Commissioner, U P S Madan urging the poll body to take action against the minister. The BJP leader alleged that the Congress minister has indulged into asking the people, voters to indulge, participate into corrupt practices. In the complaint the BJP leader has asked the SECM to take action against the Congress Minister. Somaiya later disclosed that the SECM has informed him that it has sought report from the election officials and would take action accordingly.
Yashomati Thakur represents the Teosa assembly constituency in Amravati district. She is considered to be the loyalist of Rahul Gandhi camp in the Congress.
In the video that has gone viral on the social media, Thakur while addressing a rally is seen candidly stating that the Congress was not in power till now. “As you all probably know we were not in the government till now. It is just now that we have come to power. I have just taken oath as the minister. Khisse (pockets) Aajun Garam Vhayche Aahet. (The pockets are yet to get filled up with money).
Referring to the opposition BJP, she urged the crowd that it is time to empty their pockets. Thakur asked the crowd not to say no to money being offered to them by the opposition. Asking the crowd to accept the money, she remarked “Laxmi Aali Tar Swagat Kara. Pan Panjyala (Congress symbol) Matadan Kara” (welcome Laxmi (money), but vote for the Congress).
Reacting to the developments a senior BJP leader from New Delhi while speaking on conditions of anonymity, pointed out that the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have been out of power for the last five years in Maharashtra. Till now they were squabbling over who gets which ministry, now they are after making money.
But this is not the first time that politicians from Maharashtra have courted trouble with the poll body. It may be recalled that in the past senior BJP union minister Nitin Gadkari and later on late BJP leader Gopinath Munde had courted controversy over their “Laxmi Darshan” comments. It remains to be seen as to what action does the SECM take in this matter.
