State BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule courted controversy when an audio clip, purportedly of him advising party workers to appease journalists by treating them with tea and a meal to avoid negative publicity ahead of the elections, went viral on Sunday.

Opposition parties slammed Bawankule. State Congress president Nana Patole said the act showed Bawankule's depth of thinking. NCP (Sharad Pawar) working President Supriya Sule condemned the BJP leader. She said the BJP did not like dissenting voices in the media.