'Maha Vikas Aghadi government toppled by trapping MLAs in honeytrap', Shiv Sena UBT's claim

Shiv Sena UBT has claimed that in the year 2022, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government was toppled by trapping MLAs in honeytrap. Shiv Sena UBT has also claimed in its mouthpiece Saamana on Tuesday that secret cameras and systems like Pegasus were used to trap the MLAs.

Claim made in the editorial of 'Saamana'

The editorial article of Saamana said that some MLAs of the undivided Shiv Sena and NCP changed their allegiance under pressure from central agencies. At least 18 MLAs and four MPs were trapped in a honeytrap, due to which they joined hands with the BJP to save their image. It said that Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar had alleged that MPs and MLAs were blackmailed and being the former leader of the opposition, his remarks should be taken seriously. According to the editorial, 'Secret cameras and systems like Israel's Pegasus were used. Now it is clear that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government fell because of this honeytrap.'

Systems like Pegasus were used

It is worth mentioning that Pegasus is a spyware developed by Israeli cyber-arms company NSO Group. It is used for spying. Saamana said that the BJP had a system of honeytrapping and even policemen were monitoring the opposition. When a pen drive containing evidence of honeytrap involving Shiv Sena MPs and MLAs was handed over to Eknath Shinde, he went on a trip to Surat, Guwahati and then Goa. The editorial said that all this was like a suspense thriller.

It is worth noting that there was a break in Shiv Sena in the year 2022 and the party split into two factions. One faction became Shiv Sena UBT led by Uddhav Thackeray and the other faction became Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. Saamana claimed that initially Shinde lacked the required numbers and at that time he had the support of only nine or ten MLAs. However, people from the home department and then opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis blackmailed the MPs and MLAs.

The editorial said that Shiv Sena ministers Sanjay Shirsat, Yogesh Kadam and Dada Bhuse, and their NCP colleague Manik Kokate should be sacked from the state cabinet. Some ministers were trapped in a honeytrap, and they should also be removed. According to Saamana, the conduct of some ministers indicates that a cabinet reshuffle is likely in Maharashtra.