MAHARASHTRA ELECTIONS ON SALE! CASH, SILVER & FREEBIES FLOW OPENLY AS VOTERS BOUGHT IN DAYLIGHT!

PUNE/MUMBAI: As civic polls draw dangerously close, democracy in Maharashtra appears to be up for sale. Openly priced, neatly packaged and quietly delivered, while authorities remain largely blind and deaf to what voters say is happening in plain sight.

Sources revealed to National Bulletin that rates are being fixed ward-wise, from Rs 8,000 per voter in Wagholi to Rs 10,000 in Viman Nagar, touching Rs 12,000 in select pockets of the city. Vote-buying, sources alleged, has turned into a well-oiled operation. On the ground, “rates” are no longer whispered but openly discussed, finalised and executed days before polling.

“People are openly being distributed cash, openly given money in the name of votes. Free cash flow is happening in the open, with fleets of cars being used,” one source said.

In some areas, voters also claimed payments are being promised in instalments—half before polling day and the balance after the job is done.

“It’s not even a secret anymore,” said a resident from Wagholi, requesting anonymity. “Everyone knows the rate. Everyone knows who is paying. Cash is moving freely.”

Cash, silver and freebies flood the campaign trail

The allegations come even as election flying squads in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have seized cash, liquor, washing machines, household goods and even silver—items allegedly meant to lure voters, in direct violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Yet, locals say these seizures barely scratch the surface.

Adding to the embarrassment for authorities, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vasant More publicly flagged the open distribution of silver items during campaigning, calling it a shameless attempt to buy votes under the cover of gifting.

“This is not campaigning. This is corruption in daylight,” More said. “Voters are being treated like commodities.”

Threats, pressure and the politics of fear

Cash is not the only weapon in play. Sources alleged that complaints of threats and pressure tactics have surged in recent days. In Mumbai, a Congress candidate alleged intimidation to force a withdrawal from the BMC race, leading to a police complaint. Independent candidates, too, have approached courts, alleging deliberate obstruction during nomination filing.

Police action, or a convenient blind eye?

While Pune Police have claimed preventive action against thousands of individuals with criminal backgrounds, residents question whether enforcement remotely matches the scale of violations.

Unaccounted cash seizures in Mumbai after campaign hours have triggered suspicion of last-minute vote buying. But voters ask a sharper question: If rates are common knowledge, why does prevention seem invisible?

“Everyone knows where the money is going,” said a voter on anonymity.

Democracy at a Discount?

“What scares us is not just the cash,” said the same voter, adding, “It’s the message that votes can be bought, rules can be bent, and nothing will happen.”