Kalyan: Dombivli witnessed high drama on Sunday during campaigning in Panel No. 29 after Shiv Sena candidates Nitin Patil and his brother Ravindra Patil alleged that BJP workers were distributing cash to influence voters in Tukaram Nagar, leading to a tense standoff and police intervention. BJP leaders denied the allegations.While the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and BJP are contesting the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) elections as alliance partners, Panel No. 29 has emerged as an exception, with the Mahayuti allies locked in a “friendly fight”.Shiv Sena workers claimed they caught three BJP workers red-handed inside a residential building, allegedly carrying cash packets along with voter slips. They staged a sit-in protest and demanded that the police immediately conduct a panchnama and arrest the accused.As news of the incident spread, a large number of BJP workers, led by party district president Nandu Parab, rushed to the spot. As party workers from both sides came face to face, heated arguments broke out. Parab accused Sena workers of deliberately planting cash in the bags of the BJP workers and termed the episode a “political conspiracy”.Sensing that the situation could spiral out of control, the police intervened swiftly and detained the three BJP workers. Police said an investigation has been initiated to verify the allegations and counter-allegations, and further action will be taken after examining the seized material and recording statements from both sides.
