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Bahujan Vikas Aghadi leader Hitendra Thakur’s brother is an alleged gangster and was even tried under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act in connection with a murder case
Hitendra Thakur and Vinod Tawde (PTI Image)
Right on the eve of the Maharashtra assembly election, it was Bahujan Vikas Aghadi leader Hitendra Thakur who alleged that BJP national secretary general Vinod Tawde was distributing money during a meeting with Nallasopara candidate Rajan Naik.
Though Tawde vehemently denied these allegations, it was fodder for evening news bulletins and, thus, a new term was coined – cash-for-vote.
But, who is Hitendra Thakur, a man virtually unknown on national television till Tuesday afternoon (November 19)? And, with the widespread reactions his allegations have garnered, it remains to be seen what impact it has on voters.
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BROTHER TRIED UNDER TADA
Hitendra Thakur is the chief of the influential Thakur family and chief of the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA). He has served as the Vasai MLA for six consecutive terms and has considerable influence in Virar, Vasai and Nallasopara areas in Palghar district. The Thakurs are also engaged in trade and business, and wield influence through these sectors as well.
But, the leader who has brought charges against Tawde is not just another local politician. If you start paying attention to details in his area of influence, soon you will know that he has a brother, Bhai Thakur.
Local residents claimed that Bhai Thakur is a gangster and is linked to “big fish”. He was even tried under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) in connection with the alleged murder of builder Suresh Dube. But, he was acquitted due to “lack of sufficient evidence”.
In the 2019 assembly election, three candidates of the BVA won. Apart from Hitendra, his son Khitij Thakur and Rajesh Patil were victorious. Has Hitendra ever been with the BJP or supported the saffron party? The answer is yes.
It was in 2022 during the Rajya Sabha election in Maharashtra. The Thakurs changed sides and supported the BJP, following which the state witnessed political upheaval when the Maha Vikas Agadi (MVA) government was toppled. Even then, the family extended their support to the Eknath Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena.
But, things soon turned sour between the two recently. In this election, Kshitij will find it easy with Vijay Patil of the Congress and BJP’s Sneha Dubey Pandit up against him in Nallasopara.
