Tue Nov 19 22:16:19 UTC 2024: ## Last-Minute Defection Shakes Up Dahanu Assembly Race
**Palghar, Maharashtra –** A major political upset has rocked the Dahanu Assembly constituency on the eve of the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Suresh Padvi, the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) candidate for Dahanu, dramatically defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today, just one day before the election.
Padvi, who also served as the BVA’s Palghar vice-president, publicly joined the BJP in the presence of BJP district president Bharat Rajput. Immediately following his defection, Padvi declared his support for the BJP’s Dahanu candidate, Vinod Medha, significantly altering the electoral landscape.
This move comes amidst other political turmoil in Palghar. BJP leader Vinod Tawde is facing allegations of distributing money in Virar, leading to a large protest by BVA workers who surrounded the hotel where he was staying. Police intervened and seized approximately ₹9 lakh in cash.
The timing of Padvi’s defection – just hours before the polls – is considered a major blow to the BVA and a significant boost for the BJP in the Dahanu constituency. The election is scheduled for November 20th.
First Piper 