Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 21: Two senior Shiv Sena leaders — former MLA Sada Sarvankar and sitting MLA Sanjay Gaikwad — have stirred political controversy with explosive comments on public funds allocation and the soaring cost of local body elections.
Sada Sarvankar Claims He Gets Rs 20 Cr Despite Losing Election
Former Shiv Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar has raised eyebrows with his claim that although no longer a serving legislator, he continues to receive Rs 20 crore in development funds, while current MLAs are allocated only Rs 2 crore.
"Even though I lost the election, I’ve never truly felt defeated. The public and my leadership — Chief Minister Eknath Shinde — continue to support me. That’s why I’m seen at every inauguration. My work speaks for itself," Sarvankar said on Sunday.
He added that despite his loss in the Dadar constituency, he remains active and visible, attributing his political relevance to hard work, even as he criticised the role of caste and community factors in electoral outcomes.
Sena UBT Hits Back: “Where Did Rs 500 crore Go?”
The remarks triggered sharp backlash from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction. MLA Mahesh Sawant, who defeated Sarvankar in the last Assembly polls, questioned the legitimacy of such a large fund being given to a non-serving MLA.
"If an ex-MLA gets Rs 20 crore, why aren’t sitting MLAs getting Rs 40 crore? Where did all this money — reportedly Rs 500 crore over the years — come from and where has it gone?" Sawant asked.
He also announced his intention to lodge a formal complaint with the Assembly Speaker and the Chief Minister, calling the situation an “insult to the people” of Mahim, Dadar, Matunga, and Prabhadevi.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Akhil Chitre added fuel to the fire, demanding a probe.
"Now the public sees how funds are distributed. This kind of favouritism is why some ruling party leaders have become complacent. The Enforcement Directorate should look into it."
Sanjay Gaikwad’s Explosive Remarks on Poll Spending: ‘Even 100 Goats Demanded’
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, already known for controversial statements, made headlines again by claiming that local body elections are becoming prohibitively expensive, with candidates forced to spend crores.
"In some places, candidates are being pressured to spend Rs 1–3 crore. In extreme cases, even demands for 100 goats are made," Gaikwad said, highlighting the growing financial burden on grassroots workers.
Gaikwad called for a statewide alliance policy for local body polls under the BJP–Shiv Sena (Shinde) coalition, arguing that grassroots workers are left unsupported compared to national and assembly-level coordination.
"If the strategies used in Chikhli or Malkapur are applied in Buldhana, we’re ready for alliance talks. But our workers can’t keep up with this financial pressure. They deserve clarity and fairness," he added.
Growing Pressure on Shinde-Led Government
These back-to-back statements have added to the growing scrutiny on Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, with critics alleging unequal distribution of funds, misuse of development schemes, and lack of accountability within the ruling coalition.
As pressure mounts from both allies and opponents, political observers expect the controversy over development funds and election spending to further intensify in the coming days — especially with local body polls on the horizon.