A controversy has erupted during the Maharashtra Assembly elections after a forged letter, falsely attributed to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, surfaced online. The letter, written on what appeared to be official MNS letterhead, claimed that the party was extending its support to the bow-and-arrow symbol of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) in the Worli Assembly constituency. This development led to the filing of an FIR against a worker from the Shinde faction.
The letter falsely claimed that, in return for the Mahayuti alliance’s decision not to field a candidate against the MNS in the Sewree constituency, the MNS would back the Shinde faction in Worli to prevent the division of Hindu votes. However, the letter was found to be undated and carried a forged signature of MNS chief Raj Thackeray.
On November 20, the day of voting, MNS worker Akrur Patkar received a photo of the letter from Rajesh Kusale, a Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) worker and former Shakhapramukh. Patkar, who was with MNS candidate Sandeep Deshpande at the time, contacted Raj Thackeray to confirm the letter’s authenticity. Thackeray denied issuing any such statement, raising concerns about the misuse of his name.
To complicate matters further, Kusale reportedly sent Patkar a video reiterating the claim that the MNS was supporting the Shinde faction in Worli and asked him to keep the matter confidential.
Following these developments, Patkar filed a complaint at the Agripada Police Station. Based on his complaint, the police registered an FIR against Kusale under sections 336(2), 336(4), 353(2), and 171(1) of the Indian Penal Code, which address forgery and the spread of misinformation.
The incident has sparked significant debate during a critical election period. The Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Shinde faction and BJP, had strategically decided not to field a candidate against the MNS in Sewree. However, this controversy has raised questions about trust within alliances and the ethical conduct of political campaigns.
As investigations continue, the case highlights the need for transparency and accountability in election processes. With results due on November 23, the matter has added another layer of tension to an already intense political scenario in Maharashtra.