Mumbai: Shiv Sena’s Neelam Gorhe who was earlier part of Uddhav Thackeray’s party, stirred a major controversy on Sunday by targeting the Shiv Sena UBT for corruption and alleging that “two Mercedes would fetch you a post in the party.” Her comment resulted in a backlash with SS (UBT) functionaries demanding proof, and protests taking place outside her home in Pune.
Gorhe was speaking at an event of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Delhi. Talking about the lack of contact between party workers and the leadership in the SS (UBT), she said, “Leaders were foisted on party workers. Two Mercedes cars would fetch you one post.”
Once considered a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray, Gorhe had been elected as an MLC four times. She also served as deputy chairperson of the upper house of the state legislature before joining deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde.
SS (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray dismissed her comments and demanded proof. “Let her show the Mercedes. Anyway, I don’t pay attention to such people, even though I respect her as a woman,” said Thackeray.
SS (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut was more caustic. “She should come with proof. She has been an MLC four times, so did she give 8 Mercedes? Let her come with the receipts,” he said. Later, Gorhe clarified that she herself has not given any money to anyone.
SS (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray reflected on X about those who had left the party. Without naming Gorhe, he said, “I don’t expect those dirt-bags to ever be thankful to us. But then there are those who seemed a bit more well-read and cultured but seem to be the dirtiest now. The lies they spread. The hate they spread. The corruption mindset and actions. Like leeches they have always operated, it seems.
Meanwhile, Raut also wrote to the organiser of the Sahitya Sammelan and asked whether it would take responsibility for the accusations on its platform. In response, conference organizer Sanjay Nahar said, “I feel this platform should not be used for personal politics.” President of the sammelan Usha Tambe said, “When we select a topic for discussion, we are not responsible for what the speakers say.”
Meanwhile BJP leader and water resources minister Girish Mahajan added to the controversy by saying, “Neelam Gorhe had been associated with the SS (UBT) for many years so there must be some truth to what she is saying.”