Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Friday, 23 October, flatly rejected allegations of a ₹500 crore financial transaction, levelled by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, calling them nothing more than 'gossip at a village chaupal.' The remarks came as the ruling Mahayuti alliance faced an internal row over a purported audio clip Jarange Patil played at a press conference.

Bhujbal's Rebuttal

Speaking at Nashik, Minister Bhujbal said, 'These are chats at a village chaupal. Who records them? Why would anyone give ₹500 crore to someone? If money had to be given, the BJP would deliver it themselves — after all, their ministers are in contact, right?' He insisted that no money was either given or received, dismissing the claims as tea-stall gossip with no basis in fact.

Bhujbal also urged ruling coalition leaders to stop internal mudslinging. 'There is a need to put an end to internal mudslinging. People have no interest in this. No one can finish off anyone else. Everyone works in politics according to their own strength and power. Even a party with zero MLAs manages to run,' he said.

BJP-Shiv Sena Verbal Duel

The intra-alliance tension surfaced after Shiv Sena leader and former minister Ramdas Kadam alleged on Friday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was using Jarange Patil as a pawn to 'backstab' Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Kadam demanded a thorough investigation into the purported audio clip, claiming it pointed to a conspiracy against Shinde.

BJP legislator Pravin Darekar strongly pushed back, calling Kadam's remarks irresponsible. Darekar argued that it was inappropriate for a senior leader within the ruling coalition to allege that the audio clip was manufactured by the BJP rather than generated through Artificial Intelligence (AI). Fellow BJP legislator Prasad Lad also criticised Kadam and appealed to Deputy Chief Minister Shinde to reprimand him for making what he called 'wild allegations.'

Bhujbal Pivots to Drought, Farmers

Stepping away from the political crossfire, Minister Bhujbal urged coalition leaders to prioritise the ongoing drought situation and the hardships faced by farmers and urban citizens. He acknowledged that compiling damage data for crore of farmers is a massive logistical challenge, noting that past hasty work had resulted in official dismissals and was currently under review.

'Until this study is complete, the government has decided to provide an interim amount of ₹5,000. Once all panchanamas (damage assessments) are finalised, the government will decide how much money is required and how much should be given to the farmers,' Bhujbal explained.

Bhujbal Praises Police Over Tiger Shroff Firing Case

The minister also commended Maharashtra's law enforcement for swiftly apprehending suspects in the recent firing incident involving actor Tiger Shroff, with arrests made in another state within just 15 hours through inter-state police coordination. 'I have served as the Home Minister, so I know how this works. The police are efficient and will certainly resolve the matter,' he said.

The episode underscores growing fault lines within the Mahayuti coalition, with the Maratha quota row now serving as a flashpoint for broader rivalry between BJP and Shiv Sena ahead of state-level political positioning.