MUMBAI: The Mahayuti alliance has been hit by a fresh rift, with Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam accusing a section of the BJP of conspiring with Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil to politically weaken Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his party over a controversial audio clip alleging a Rs 500 crore payment.
Kadam rejected the BJP’s claim that the audio clip, released by Jarange Patil, was AI-generated, asserting that the recording was real and that the people heard speaking in it were connected to the BJP.
The clip purportedly features a conversation alleging that the BJP gave Rs 500 crore to Shinde, to be routed to Jarange Patil through Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Shrikant Shinde, to end the Maratha reservation agitation ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Kadam said the BJP could not evade responsibility by dismissing the recording as AI-generated, alleging that elements within the party were colluding with Jarange Patil to politically finish Shinde and the Shiv Sena.
“The clip is 2.5 years old, dated October 14, 2024; then the question is why this BJP leaders' conference call audio clip was kept hidden? Why was it made public now? What is the intention behind it? It shows there is a big conspiracy behind it to damage the Shiv Sena and defame Eknath Shinde. The people who are claiming in the clip that the Rs 500 crore given to Eknath Shinde is from the BJP’s core team. So, BJP has to explain more and come out clean over it,” Kadam said.
Reacting strongly, BJP leader Pravin Darekar said that Ramdas Kadam should control himself; they can also make the allegations. Darekar said earlier that Jarange Patil was used to abuse Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and defame his image. Who met him?
“We also got all records and evidence of who met Jarange Patil and what conversations took place between them. These things will also be in public. There was a big conspiracy that would soon unravel. We just want to clarify that the BJP is finishing the career of Eknath Shinde. Let the audio inquiry take place,” the BJP leader said.
He further added that BJP and Shiv Sena are alliance partners and in government at the state and central levels, so they should respect each other, not abuse each other's leaders. “We have to stay together peacefully. We should not fight against each other. If you blame the BJP, then we will also blame you for the past,” Darekar said.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis ordered a thorough forensic probe into this 30-minute audio recording. Shiv Sena delegation met Fadnavis late Thursday night at his official residence, Varsha bungalow, to demand an investigation and raise questions about BJP leaders whose names surfaced in the clip.