Mumbai: The annual Marathi literary meet held at New Delhi found itself in a controversy over the allegations levelled by Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe, who while speaking at the event, said that posts in the Uddhav Thackeray-led party were obtained through monetary means, including gifting of Mercedes cars.Speaking at the 98th All India Marathi Literary Festival held in New Delhi, Gorhe, the deputy chairperson of the Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council), claimed that positions within Shiv Sena (UBT) were secured through monetary means, including the gifting of Mercedes cars.“If you gave two Mercedes you would get one post,” she said during a chat at the Sammelan. The 70-year-old Gorhe is a four-time Shiv Sena MLC and had joined Shinde in July 2023.Her comments evoked an angry reaction from the Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, who questioned her claims.“My party has never asked me for a single rupee. I rose from being an ordinary worker in rural areas to LoP in the Council. If what Gorhe said was true, there would have been a line of Mercedes vehicles at Matoshree (the Bandra residence of Uddhav Thackeray),” said Ambadas Danve, who is the leader of the opposition in the Vidhan Parishad.In his sharp reply, Thackeray said, “I don’t want to respond to gaya guzare log (good-for-nothing people). I don’t take cognizance.”Meanwhile, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut dashed off a letter to the literary meet organisers seeking explanation and apology. The event was held under political pressure, said Raut.In his letter to Usha Tambe, chairperson of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal, Raut said, “Numerous topics discussed at the 98th Literary Meet were unrelated to literature. It appears that the event was held under some political pressure. The platform of the Sahitya Mahamandal was grossly misused.”If such programmes were not organised with the proper approval of the Sahitya Mandal, an apology should be tendered for hosting such events, Raut said.In his letter, Raut also claimed Gorhe told reporters she paid Rs 50 lakh to participate in the programme and had gifted a Mercedes car to Usha Tambe. “I cannot ascertain the truth of this claim, but such comments tarnish the reputation of the Mahamandal,” Raut said in the letter.
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