Mumbai: Political controversy erupted after alleged bookie Sonu Jalan organised a political meeting in a housing society for BJP minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha in Malad on Tuesday. While Lodha said society resident Aslam Shaikh, a Congress MLA, planted Jalan in the meeting, Shaikh said Lodha dragged his name into the controversy instead of providing an explanation about including Jalan in the election campaign. AICC secretary Sachin Sawant disputed Lodha’s claim after tweeting a permission request in the name of Sonu Jalan submitted to the society seeking the community hall for the meeting.Lodha said on his social media account: “.. I was campaigning in Evershine Nagar located in Malvani-Malad, in support of the BJP candidate. The same society is also home to the local MLA Aslam Shaikh. After my meeting began, he sent some of his men to stand behind me to gather information about my gathering, and Sonu Jalan was among them.” Lodha added, “It is well known to everyone who keeps people like Sonu Jalan close and who keeps them at a distance. My public life was always transparent. Under no circumstances did I bring such people along with me or allow them to stay by my side.” Sawant said on social media, “… the booking of the hall for the meeting that we are discussing was done by Sonu Jalan. After the programme concluded, he (Jalan) personally expressed thanks to everyone in the Oris Group (resident group). I am providing proof of both these (he posted a screenshot of society group chat and the permission request submitted to the society) for your perusal. There is no doubt that he himself organised the meeting, so why are you misleading the public?...”Earlier, Sawant posted a photo of the programme where Lodha was speaking to the gathering while Jalan was standing beside him. Sawant posted, “Now, does Lodha need the support of a bookie and MCOCA accused to garner votes?”Aslam Shaikh said, “We never organised any political meeting in our society, even while I was contesting the assembly election and despite my son contesting the ongoing BMC election. But, since Lodha dragged my name into the controversy, I found out from the society about the meeting and learnt that the community hall was booked by Jalan for the gathering, and he called people from the society and outside to attend Lodha’s meeting. Lodha is a minister; if he or his party took any wrong person with them, they need to give an explanation to those demanding a reply from him. I did not comment on it until he dragged my name into the controversy.”
