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Shiv Sena releases audio of Fadnavis asking BJP workers to ‘use all means to win Palghar’

In the run up to the Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray released an audio clip, purportedly…

Shiv Sena releases audio of Fadnavis asking BJP workers to ‘use all means to win Palghar’

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. (Photo: IANS)

In the run up to the Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray released an audio clip, purportedly of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asking BJP workers to use all possible means to win the by-election.

Thackeray released the audio clip while addressing a rally last night in Palghar where the bypoll will be held on May 28.

Fadnavis was purportedly heard saying in the clip, “If somebody is challenging our existence in Palghar and has betrayed our trust, back-stabbed us while calling itself our ally, then they should be taught a lesson. We should not be sitting quietly now. We should launch a big attack and show them what the BJP is.”

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“We have a huge challenge before us….Some people are challenging our very existence. They are behaving like friends but backstabbing us and we must hit back. If anybody is bullying (dadagiri) us, we must attack them. They must know that I am a bigger bully. I am firmly standing behind you,” he reportedly said.

“If we want to win this election, then an answer has to be given in the same measure…Give an answer by using ‘saam, daam, dand, bhed’ (negotiation, money, punishment and division). Do not tolerate anybody’s bullying. On the contrary, bully them…I will stand behind you,” he purportedly added in Marathi.

After releasing the audio, Thackeray demanded action against Fadnavis by the Election Commission (EC). Opposition Congress and NCP also demanded an EC probe into the clip.

Other than Thackeray, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Ashok Chavan, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi President Hitendra Thakur and other political leaders demanded that the Election Commission should take note of the ‘threatening’ content in the audio-clip and initiate suitable action against Fadnavis.

“If the clip is authentic, then the chief minister should immediately resign, but if it is fake, then Fadnavis should take action against Uddhav Thackeray,” Chavan wrote in a tweet.

However, BJP spokesperson Girish Vyas and other senior leaders dismissed the audio-clip as ‘doctored’ and said the party would lodge a police complaint in the matter on Saturday, even as Fadnavis was likely to comment on the issue.

This was the second jolt for the BJP in two days as the curtains fall on Palghar by-election campaigning.

A couple of days ago, Shiv Sena activists caught some alleged BJP workers with a large amount of cash which was reportedly intended for distribution among the voters.

(With inputs from agencies)

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