Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, representing Mumbai city district, finds himself embroiled in controversy as allegations of breaching the model code of conduct surface following a public interaction session held just one day before voting day.
Accusations and Criticisms
Under the banner of the Lodha Foundation, the public interaction session took place on a bustling Sunday evening at Pedder Road, drawing residents from prominent locales such as Prem Court, Maheshwari Niketan, and Anand Darshan. Attendees eagerly engaged in discussions with Minister Lodha, hoping to address pressing civic issues plaguing their communities. Aaditya Thackeray, an MLA from the Shivsena UBT, swiftly voiced criticism, denouncing the gathering as a "proxy campaign" orchestrated by Lodha to influence voters under the guise of addressing civic concerns. Thackeray's letter to the Election Commission of India cast doubt on the impartiality of the electoral watchdog, questioning its willingness to intervene in what he perceived as a violation of the model code of conduct.
Defense and Response
Free Press Journal's report mentioned that Thackeray further raised questions about the Election Commission's consistency in enforcing electoral regulations. He queried whether the Commission would take action against Lodha and highlighted the absence of scrutiny directed towards building presidents and secretaries who facilitated the alleged transgressions. In response to the mounting accusations, Mangal Prabhat Lodha vehemently defended his actions, emphasizing his decades-long commitment to public service. Lodha refuted claims of misconduct, asserting that his engagement with constituents was not only permissible but a fundamental aspect of his duty as a public representative.
Lodha's Appeal
Meanwhile, Mangat, while canvassing through Girgaon, Tardeo, and Napean Sea Road, reached out to the residents of south Mumbai's housing societies with a heartfelt appeal. He urged them not to hesitate to express any dissatisfaction they might have towards him by choosing not to vote for him in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections, but implored them to retain their support for PM Modi. Speaking to a gathered crowd at Kailash Nagar housing society in Tardeo, with some onlookers peering from the nearby chawl-style corridors, Lodha stressed the importance of backing the BJP and tied it directly to the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. He asserted that failing to support Modi's leadership would be tantamount to committing a grave mistake, prompting around 60 to 80 attendees to join in chanting the BJP's rallying cry, 'ab ki baar, charso par.'
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