2 Sena strategists under ED scrutiny
MUMBAI: Ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, two of Shiv Sena’s key leaders involved in running the affairs in the civic body and making preparations for the polls are now on the radar of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The federal agency on Thursday raided at least seven properties of senior Sena leader and transport minister Anil Parab and others, after filing a fresh case under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The previous day, it summoned former BMC standing committee chairman Yashwant Jadhav in connection with alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
The Mumbai civic polls, which are expected to be held in a few months, will be the battlefield for the two former allies, Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and in this backdrop, ED’S scrutiny of both leaders could serve as a blow to Sena’s image.
The ED move against Jadhav and Parab and their proximity to Thackeray could be used by BJP as examples of corrupt practices in the BMC, political observers said.
Parab, a three-time member of the legislative council, handles legal matters of Sena and played a crucial role in the party’s victory in the 2017 BMC elections. Parab countered all the attacks by BJP during the campaign. Soon after, he was rewarded with being Sena’s group leader in the council. Later, Parab gained the confidence of Thackeray by playing important roles in the party. He was also part of the team that was tasked with devising strategies for the Lok Sabha and the assembly polls in 2019.
He was helping chalk out the strategy together with environment minister Aaditya Thackeray for the upcoming civic polls.
Jadhav, who was the standing committee chairman, oversaw the clearance of all the major projects in the BMC. In 2017, Jadhav was picked by Thackeray to head the prestigious committee, overlooking senior Sena councillors. Jadhav is known to be loyal to the Thackeray family.
Sanjay Raut, Sena MP and chief spokesperson, said, “We understand the timing of Central agencies. Whenever there are elections in West Bengal or Maharashtra, the ED and the CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation] are unleashed. But Maharashtra will not bow down and Sena will not be scared.”
Sena insiders said BJP was targeting people close to the CM as a “revenge” and to put pressure.
Political analyst Surendra Jondhale said that the BJP intended to break the organisational structure ahead of the BMC elections. “The BJP would like to make political use of the ED to lower the morale of Sena. Parab and Jadhav were already on their radar. Both leaders are key to the party’s organisation; so, [the ED action] is a blow.”