sena-ubt-alleges-mva-collapse-due-to-honeytrap-plot

Hidden cameras and a Pegasus-like surveillance system were used to honeytrap Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) MLAs and MPs, leading to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led government in 2022, the Shiv Sena (UBT) claimed on Tuesday.

 

In an editorial published in Saamana, the party’s mouthpiece, the Sena (UBT) alleged that several MLAs of the undivided Shiv Sena and the NCP switched loyalties under pressure from Central agencies.

 

It claimed that at least 18 MLAs and four MPs were “honeytrapped”, pushing them to align with the BJP to protect their image.

 

The editorial pointed to Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar’s statement that MPs and MLAs were blackmailed. As a former leader of the opposition, his remarks should be taken seriously, it added.

 

“Hidden cameras and a Pegasus-like system from Israel were used (for surveillance) to its fullest extent. It is now clear that the MVA government collapsed due to this (honey) trapping,” the editorial stated.

 

Pegasus is a spyware developed by the Israeli cyber-arms company NSO Group.

 

According to the Saamana, the BJP had a system in place to honeytrap lawmakers, and even policemen were used to conduct surveillance on the opposition.

 

It further claimed that when a pen drive containing evidence of honeytrapping, which involved Shiv Sena MPs and MLAs, was handed over to Eknath Shinde, the group began their journey to Surat, then Guwahati, and finally Goa. “This is all like a suspense thriller,” the editorial said.

 

The Sena (UBT) was referring to the split engineered by Shinde within the undivided Shiv Sena in 2022.

 

The editorial stated that Shinde initially lacked the numerical strength, with only nine or ten MLAs backing him at the time. It is alleged that people from the home department and the leader of the opposition, Devendra Fadnavis, blackmailed MPs and MLAs to shore up support.

 

It also demanded that Shiv Sena ministers Sanjay Shirsat, Yogesh Kadam and Dada Bhuse, along with their NCP colleague Manik Kokate, should be removed from the state cabinet.

 

The editorial further alleged that some ministers were honeytrapped and would have to be shown the door. It is suggested that the conduct of certain ministers indicates that a cabinet reshuffle is likely in Maharashtra.