BJP-turned-Sena man named as contact person in BJP booklet

Uttam Agarwal, who quit BJP to contest in the Borivli constituency, has been named as the contact point for expenditure-related issues in a party booklet; Agarwal alleges it is a ploy to misguide voters

Candidates from the BJP wishing to submit their list of expenses during campaigning for the Assembly elections, will have to contact a Shiv Sena party member. At least, that is what an internal booklet tells them to do. The party document has named as the contact point for expenditure-related issues, Uttam Agarwal, who quit the BJP to join former ally Shiv Sena.

Also read: Shiv Sena candidate hires school kids for campaigning

Agarwal alleges printing his name is a ploy on part of the BJP to misguide people into voting for the BJP.

Agarwal jumped ship to the Sena after the alliance broke up, and is now contesting on a Sena ticket from the Borivli Assembly constituency; he is now up against his former party colleague Vinod Tawde. But, a party booklet has still named him as in-charge of candidate expenses. Agarwal used to head the Chartered Accountant cell of the party.

However, the party stated that the document is only meant for internal use

The error was noticed when copies were circulated on Monday, naming Agarwal as the person heading the team that would audit electioneering expenses of BJP’s MLA candidates.

Catching them young?

mid-day had reported on October 2 that Agarwal had allegedly hired children for campaigning purposes. Schoolchildren had been seen bearing Sena flags in Borivli during school hours. Agarwal had later said the children had voluntarily taken the flags from their party workers, and denied getting children to campaign for him. 

“There can be no excuse to cover up this gaffe. How can a person who has quit and joined another party, and is now a candidate of the party against our top leader, have his name in our booklet that is meant to help our people during the elections?” questioned a leader. He further added, “We will bring this to the notice of the top brass in the party, and soon initiate action against the person responsible for the mistake.”

'Conspiracy'
The man in question himself is miffed with the goof-up and claims it is an attempt to confuse voters. “This is wrong; they are trying to misguide the voters by putting my name in their booklet, even though Modiji is aware that I have left the party and am a candidate against Vinod Tawde. I will be taking action against the BJP for misusing my name.”

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!