Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Sandeep Deshpande has accused rival factions of distributing cash to influence voters in the ongoing Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Employees’ Co-operative Credit Society election. The election, held on August 18, 2025, sees a newly formed alliance between the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) contesting under the ‘Utkarsh panel’ against a BJP-backed panel led by allies of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. This high-stakes poll, involving BEST’s 15,000 employees and a corpus exceeding ₹1,000 crore, is viewed as a precursor to broader political alliances ahead of upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra.
In a video posted on X, Deshpande alleged that a BEST credit society member received a pamphlet containing an envelope with two ₹500 notes, describing it as a blatant attempt to buy votes. “This is a clear game to manipulate the election,” he stated, vowing to file a formal complaint with the election officer. The accusation has intensified scrutiny on the poll, which is already under the spotlight due to a recent Economic Offences Wing (EOW) inquiry into an alleged ₹12.41 crore fraud involving the society’s board, as reported by Free Press Journal. The inquiry, triggered by a complaint from a Badlapur resident, alleges overpayment for a Lonavala guest house property, raising questions about financial mismanagement.
The Utkarsh panel, comprising 21 members—18 from Shiv Sena (UBT), two from MNS, and one from the BEST SC/ST Employees Welfare Association—marks the first electoral collaboration between Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray’s MNS in years. This alliance follows a reconciliation between the Thackeray cousins on July 5, 2025, ending two decades of estrangement, as noted by Hindustan Times. The panel aims to retain control of the credit society, historically dominated by Shiv Sena (UBT), and strengthen the parties’ foothold in Mumbai’s civic and transport sectors. If successful, the MNS could secure an additional nominated director post.
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The election occurs amid speculation of a broader MNS-Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance for upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other local body polls. The Indian Express reported that Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed the Thackeray cousins would contest these elections together, aiming to revive their influence in Mumbai, Thane, and Nashik, where both parties have strong Marathi voter bases. However, the BJP has dismissed these claims, with leader Pravin Darekar alleging the alliance stems from Shiv Sena (UBT)’s fear of electoral decline.
The BEST credit society, critical for employee welfare through loans and schemes, is a significant electoral battleground. Its 60,000 voters, including employees and their families, make it a testing ground for the MNS-Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance’s viability. Allegations of vote-buying and financial irregularities, coupled with government notices issued on August 13, 2025, as reported by Hindustan Times, have raised concerns about political interference by the BJP-led Mahayuti government. Suhas Samant, president of the BEST Kamgar Sena, defended the society’s integrity, citing its ‘A’ grade in the latest government audit and accusing BJP MLC Prasad Lad of orchestrating the inquiries to disrupt the alliance.
As Mumbai braces for the BMC elections, the outcome of this poll could signal the strength of the Thackeray cousins’ reunion and their ability to challenge the ruling Mahayuti coalition. The controversy surrounding cash distribution allegations underscores the fierce competition and high stakes in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
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