TMC MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, took to X to allege that legislators are being offered crores of rupees to switch political loyalties, questioning why a reported offer of ₹15 crore was considered too low — and claiming that her party's experience suggests the going rate is far higher.

Context

Moitra's post, addressed to Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, read: 'Only ₹15 cr? Saste mein kyo jaa rahe hai?' ('Only ₹15 crore? Why are you going so cheap?'). She went on to claim that legislators aligned with her own side allegedly received ₹4 crore upfront and ₹1 crore per month for the remaining 36 months of their term — implying a total package of up to ₹40 crore. She closed with the phrase 'Honey plus Money,' suggesting a combination of political inducements beyond cash.

The post is framed as political commentary rather than a formal complaint, and the specific incident or state it references is not named explicitly. The figures cited by Moitra are her own claims and have not been independently verified.

Policy Backdrop

Allegations of monetary inducements to legislators — commonly called 'horse-trading' — have been a recurring feature of Indian politics, particularly during government-formation crises in states with thin majorities or hung assemblies. The 52nd Constitutional Amendment of 1985 introduced the anti-defection law to disqualify legislators who switch parties, but critics argue it has not eliminated back-channel inducements.

Maharashtra has been a particular flashpoint since the 2022 Shiv Sena split, which triggered prolonged legal and political disputes over MLA loyalties, Speaker rulings, and the legitimacy of rival factions. That episode drew national attention to the mechanics of legislative defection and the scale of alleged financial offers involved.

Stakeholders and Impact

Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) faction has consistently positioned itself as a victim of orchestrated defection since the 2022 split, and Moitra's tagging of Thackeray appears to invoke that shared political experience. Abhishek Banerjee, as TMC's national general secretary, is central to the party's organisational strategy in states beyond West Bengal, making him a key figure in any multi-state political calculus.

For ordinary voters and legislators, such public allegations — regardless of their verifiability — reinforce concerns about the integrity of representative democracy and the effectiveness of existing anti-defection safeguards. Opposition parties routinely use such claims to build political narratives ahead of assembly sessions or elections.

What's Next

It remains to be seen whether Moitra's post prompts a formal response from the Shiv Sena (UBT), a rejoinder from the parties implicitly targeted, or any reference to the Election Commission of India or the judiciary. Given the post's pointed figures and its public tagging of senior opposition leaders, follow-up statements or denials could sharpen the political exchange in the days ahead.

With multiple state assemblies either in session or approaching electoral cycles, allegations of legislative poaching are likely to remain a live issue — and Moitra's intervention signals that opposition parties may be coordinating a more vocal pushback against what they describe as institutionalised horse-trading.