Just a few hours before Maharashtra conducts the assembly elections, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA), a regional party, accused BJP leaders, including general secretary and former minister Vinod Tawde, of distributing cash at a hotel in Virar in Palghar district. 

The BVA has alleged that BJP candidate from Nalasopara Rajan Naik was distributing cash, allegedly to influence voters, in the presence of former minister Vinod Tawde. Kshitij Thakur, who is the sitting BVA MLA , reached the hotel with his supporters and a high drama followed.

Reportedly, the BVA supporters gheraoed Vinod Tawde and raised slogans. The supporters claimed that they found envelopes with cash and diaries at the meeting venue. Several viral videos show BVA supporters waving currency notes in front of Vinod Tawde. 

Reports said that an FIR has been registered in this connection. BVA President Hitendra Thakur alleged that a sum of Rs 5 crore was distributed at the Virar hotel. He added that former minister Tawde had a diary that carried details of the cash.

Furthermore, the Congress has also shared a video from the hotel and accused the BJP of trying to use money power to influence the election. The party added that even top leaders are involved, and asked the Election Commission to take note and strict action.

Meanwhile, the BJP has trashed the allegations and termed them baseless and a political stunt by the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi on the eve of elections. The BJP said that Vinod Tawde was at the hotel for a meeting with party workers to discuss poll preparations. It also said the Election Commission must investigate the matter and scan CCTV footage to get to the root of the matter. 

Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra Kiran Kulkarni has said they have received a complaint in this connection and necessary action will be taken.

Maharashtra will vote on November 20, and the counting of votes will take place on November 23.

In an unfortunate incident, two bikers lost their lives, and nearly three dozen people were injured in multiple road accidents early on Tuesday as dense smog blanketed Noida and other parts of western Uttar Pradesh, severely impacting visibility.

Low visibility due to thick fog on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway led to multiple collisions with a broken truck. Multiple car occupants were injured and sent to Saifai Medical College, while one was admitted to Shikohabad Hospital. 

Reportedly, on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, a truck collided with another due to low visibility, triggering a chain reaction. Further, a bus travelling from Panipat to Mathura crashed into the stationary trucks, injuring around a dozen passengers who were rushed to the hospital. Police were deployed to the scene to clear the pile-up.

Additionally, in Firozabad, near Agra, nearly six vehicles collided on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway after a pick-up truck broke down near Nasirpur. After the drivers failed to spot the stalled vehicle due to the smog, leading to a pile-up of SUVs and other cars.

Meanwhile, a speeding truck rammed a bike on National Highway-34, killing Mansharam, a Manipuri resident in Bulandshahr. The police have detained the truck driver. Another fatal accident occurred in Badaun, where an unidentified vehicle struck the bike of Santosh Singh, a teacher commuting to his school in Mau, leading to his death. Ten other people sustained injuries in similar incidents in the region.

Notably, these accidents come as North India grapples with hazardous air quality, with pollution levels in the ‘severe plus’ category. The air pollution has created a health emergency in the National Capital Region (NCR), with residents reporting sore throats, headaches, and breathing difficulties. Authorities have also urged people to remain indoors to minimise exposure to the toxic air.

Reportedly, the local police and administrations are on high alert as they manage the fallout from the hazardous conditions, which continue to threaten road safety and public health.

Amid worsening air quality, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday wrote to the Centre, seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention for artificial rain in the national capital in an effort to combat the worsening air pollution levels in the national capital.

Addressing a press conference, the Environment Minister said that layers of smog have covered North India, and artificial rain is the only solution to get rid of smog. He added that this is a medical emergency. The AAP Minister further stated that PM Modi should intervene, and that it is his moral responsibility to act. He continued that the Centre should take steps to control pollution.

His remarks come as the city remains the most polluted in the country today, with a thick layer of smog blanketing the national capital. Reportedly, the Air Quality Index spiked to an alarming 494 under the ‘severe plus’ category. Despite the implementation of the strictest Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) IV restrictions in the national capital, multiple air monitoring stations touched the 500 mark.

Gopal Rai also slammed Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, saying the latter has not called a single meeting on artificial rain despite his four letters sent in August, September, October and today. He asserted that PM Modi should ask his Environment Minister to convene a meeting on artificial rain. He added that the Prime Minister should either give a solution or a clear path for artificial rains. If the Centre government cannot act, their minister should resign, he continued.

Speaking on measures taken by the Delhi government, Gopal Rai said that they have banned BS-III petrol four wheelers and BS-IV diesel vehicles. He added that all trucks and diesel buses coming from outside have been banned. He continued that schools have been closed for classes 10 and 12 as well, and timings have been staggered for offices. He further mentioned that they are working to take decisions about work from home. 

Environment Minister Gopal Rai’s letter to the Centre seeking a nod for artificial rain came a day after the Supreme Court directed authorities in Delhi NCR not to lift the Stage 4 pollution curbs under GRAP even if the AQI fell below the 450 mark. The top court flagged a delay in the implementation of stricter measures to check air pollution.

Artificial rain involves the dispersion of substances such as silver iodide, potassium iodide, and dry ice into the atmosphere to stimulate the formation of rain or snow. The process typically takes about half an hour to generate rain.

Earlier in November 2023 as well, the Delhi government moved the Supreme Court to discuss the possibility of inducing artificial rain through cloud seeding to bring down the AQI levels in the city.

However, the top court asked the AAP government to instead approach the Centre and seek permission for the implementation.