A senior BJP MLA and former Minister in Maharashtra Shri Raj Purohit has been “caught on tape” criticising the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ruing the lack of internal democracy within the party and revealing the influence of money power in securing positions.

“There is nothing called collective leadership. It is dhokha [cheating]. One who says that he will rule with collective leadership is a fraud,” Mr. Purohit says in the video.

For alienating the Bania community, considered to be “BJP’s hardcore supporters”, with his claims on unearthing black money. “Half the nation’s economy runs on black money.  I interact with the top businessmen. They say don’t interfere in every aspect. Let things proceed as they are,” Mr. Purohit said in the video.

He alleges the struggle within the party and the role of money power in securing power positions. He names BJP vice-president and MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha, a major builder, as the person commanding supreme influence within the party and even blames the RSS because of his money power.

"This is called money power. All know that Lodha is the biggest builder (here). In elections, he spends huge amounts for the party. Even the CM is helpless. Diktats come from above and he has to do what the top rung says," Purohit seen saying in the video.

He is also heard in the video, calling chief minister Devendra Fadnavis as helpless in the face of "pressure from above" and from influential individuals like builder and Malabar Hill MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha.

In the video he ridiculed Raj Thackeray as a "bogus" leader. MNS workers did not take the comments well and vandalised Mr. Purohit’s office at Kalbadevi.

“Would Mr. Fadnavis be CM or would Raj Purohit stay without a Ministry,” Mr. Purohit heard in the video, lamenting that he had to endure a lot of injustice despite being a senior leader.

Purohit rejected all the allegations and said, "I called up the CM and told him to submit the video for forensic analysis. I respect the party chief (Shah) and the PM. As for criticizing the RSS, not even in my dreams can I think of doing so. I am not a big leader. I am not a national level leader. I am not a minister. I am an ordinary MLA. I don't know how anyone will benefit by maligning my image through a so-called sting operation. I think it was done to thwart my chances of becoming a minister in the state."

By Premji