In a new twist in Maharashtra’s political landscape, Chhagan Bhujbal, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and current Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister, has publicly refuted allegations that he joined the BJP-led NDA due to pressure from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Bhujbal, in response to claims featured in journalist Rajdeep Sardesai’s book *2024: The Election that Surprised India*, denied that fear of prosecution influenced his political realignment. He clarified that his shift to the NDA coalition, which also includes Shiv Sena, was based on development goals for his constituency, not due to any ED threat.
Sardesai’s book cited Bhujbal reportedly receiving a fresh ED notice before his alliance switch, prompting accusations from the opposition. Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders, including Congress, NCP (SP) under Sharad Pawar, and Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray, have condemned the BJP for allegedly weaponizing central agencies like the ED, CBI, and Income Tax department to intimidate political adversaries. This strategy, they argue, has coerced several leaders into switching sides to escape legal challenges.
Bhujbal also expressed his intent to pursue legal recourse after the election period, emphasizing that he has already been cleared by the courts and faces no active threat from the ED. Adding to the debate, NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase criticized the BJP for allegedly enabling what he called a “washing machine culture,” whereby leaders facing allegations join the ruling party and see their cases seemingly “cleansed.” Tapase argued that this undermines public trust and the integrity of democratic institutions.
With Maharashtra heading into assembly polls, the issue has fueled a polarized political environment. Both the BJP and the Congress-led I.N.D.I.A alliance are focused on swaying voter sentiment amid heightened scrutiny of political maneuvers and agency activities.
 leader Chhagan Bhujbal has pushed back against accusations suggesting his shift to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was influenced by Enforcement Directorate (ED) pressures.){kind=link}