Row in Sena (UBT) after leader Sushma Andhare accused of taking money from workers

Andhare allegedly asked for money to install an air conditioner and add furniture to her office

A war of words has erupted between two leaders of the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Maharashtra with the party's Beed district unit president Appasaheb Jadhav accusing deputy leader Sushma Andhare of demanding money from party workers to install an air conditioner and buy furniture in her office, although Andhare has denied the allegation. Jadhav also claimed that he slapped Andhare twice following a quarrel over the issue, but the latter maintained that nothing of that sort took place.

Jadhav said the incident occurred on Thursday night in Beed city, where a rally of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut is scheduled to take place on Saturday. Talking to reporters, Jadhav said, "We are working for the party, but Sushma Andhare is demanding money from our party workers to install an air conditioner and buy furniture for her office. She is also trying to sell my party post. Therefore, I had a clash with Andhare and slapped her twice."

Talking to media, Andhare, who is also a spokesperson of the party, said, "These allegations (levelled by Jadhav) are laughable. But I praise the script writer of the (Eknath) Shinde faction here."

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"A big rally has been planned after a long time in Beed by Shiv Sena (UBT) and these allegations are an effort to malign the upcoming event. A clash took place among Jadhav and some party workers at the rally ground. Along with the party's local leaders, I went to the spot to resolve the issue, but Jadhav ran away from there," added.

Another Beed district president of the party, Anil Jagtap, said in a Facebook live, "The Mahaprabodhan Yatra led by Sushma Andhare is scheduled to conclude here and many people are not happy with it...The incident as alleged by Jadhav is completely false."

While the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde currently shares power with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena (UBT) is part of the opposition bloc along with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress.