Honeytrapping of MLAs led to collapse of Uddhav Thackeray government in 2022?

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday made a big claim on how the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra collapsed following a split in the party in 2022.

 

In an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena (UBT) says at least 18 MLAs and MPs of the then ruling alliance were honeytrapped using hidden cameras and a Pegasus-like surveillance system.

 

Many of these legislators were from the undivided Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party. They faced pressure from the Centre, and were eventually forced to switch sides and join hands with the BJP to save their image, it claims.

 

"Hidden cameras and a Pegasus-like system from Israel were used (for surveillance) to its fullest extent. It is now clear that the MVA government collapsed due to this (honey) trapping,” the editorial says.

 

The NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena government led by Uddhav Thackeray came to power in Maharashtra in 2019 after the Sena leader pulled out of the National Democratic Alliance following differences with the BJP over the chief minister post.

 

However, the government fell within three years after Sena leader Eknath Shinde pulled off a coup, split the party and joined hands with the BJP along with several MLAs loyal to him.

 

Now, the Thackeray camp alleges that the MLAs who switched sides had fallen prey to honey-trapping.

 

“When a pen drive containing evidence of honeytrapping, which involved Shiv Sena MPs and MLAs, was handed over to Eknath Shinde, they set out on their journey to Surat, Guwahati and then to Goa. This is all like a suspense thriller,” says the Saamana editorial.

 

It also claims that Devendra Fadnavis, who was then the leader of the opposition, blackmailed the MPs and MLAs to give support to Shinde.

 

The Saamana editorial came a day after Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged that four ministers in Maharashtra and "many" government officials had been "honey trapped".

 

In a post on X, Raut claimed four young MPs of the then undivided Shiv Sena were "honey trapped", leading them to defect and join the faction headed by Shinde.

 

His comments drew a sharp rebuttal from leaders of the ruling BJP who dismissed his claims as "foolish" and lacking in credibility.

 

"He should not be afraid. If he has any material related to honeytrap claims, he must come forward and show it," said Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

India