Poach & Cross-Vote In MLC Polls? Pics Of Cong Councillors, BJP MLA Sparks Buzz

Nagpur: A high-voltage political battle erupted in Maharashtra's Wardha-Chandrapur-Gadchiroli local authority constituency on Tuesday after several photos of Congress corporators and local representatives with BJP MLA Kirtikumar Bhangdiya surfaced on social media. Congress claimed that many of its councillors are "not reachable", while levelling fresh allegations of cross-voting and political poaching ahead of the Legislative Council elections.The photos, widely circulated across social media platforms through the day, showed multiple Congress councillors posing with Bhangdiya, a three-time BJP MLA from Chimur and a key political rival of Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar in eastern Vidarbha.The developments have sharply escalated tensions in one of the state's most closely watched Legislative Council contests. Sources said that the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is marginally short of winning numbers in the Wardha-Chandrapur-Gadchiroli local authority constituency. The Mahayuti alliance may require support from opposition ranks to secure a win, sources added.Bhangdiya dismissed the horse-trading claims as "baseless" and clarified that the viral photographs were old images. "These photographs are from the municipal council president election. There is nothing unusual about political functionaries meeting each other or sharing a stage at public events," Bhangdiya told TOI.The BJP MLA, though, added that they are not averse to support from opposition parties. "If someone openly says they want to support our candidate, why should we refuse? We will accept support offered voluntarily and transparently," he said.The controversy erupted amid allegations by Congress leaders that several of its corporators from Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts had gone incommunicado ahead of the polls. Congress had earlier alleged attempts at "horse-trading" and monetary inducements to engineer cross-voting during the election.According to political observers, the electorate for the local authority constituency here comprises around 900 elected representatives, including corporators, councillors, and local body members. The winning candidate requires around 50% votes. Sources say that Mahayuti alliance is currently marginally short of the magic number.Reacting to allegations made by Vijay Wadettiwar regarding poaching, Bhangdiya said, "If Wadettiwar has any concrete evidence that the BJP is involved in poaching or horse-trading, he should place it before the public. Making allegations without proof has become a habit for him," Bhangdiya said."Even Wadettiwar remained non-reachable during the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi govt in 2019. That did not mean he had joined the BJP," Bhangdiya said. Bhangdiya maintained that leaders from different parties routinely interact over developmental works and local political issues, particularly in districts like Chandrapur and Gadchiroli, where local bodies often require coordination across party lines."Many councillors from Chimur, Bramhapuri, Warora and adjoining areas approach me for constituency-related work. We share cordial relations because everyone wants development for their people. If people from other parties meet me, it doesn't mean they are joining the BJP," he said.