Himalaya Harbinger, National bureau.
In a notable trend, a slew of politicians facing accusations of corruption has found refuge within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ranks since 2014, a development raising eyebrows and inviting scrutiny. A thorough analysis reveals a sequence of events where these politicians, regardless of their party affiliations, have sought shelter under the BJP umbrella, coincidentally leading to a stalling or cessation of investigations against them.
Since 2014, as many as 25 prominent politicians under the radar of Central agencies for alleged corruption have shifted allegiance to the BJP, transcending party lines. Among them, 10 hail from the Congress, four each from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena, three from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), two from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and one each from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP).
Recent data indicates a concerning trend: while three of the cases against these politicians have been closed, 20 others remain stagnant or in a state of suspension—marked by inertia from the investigative agencies, notably post the politicians’ affiliations with the BJP.
A glaring instance highlights the contrast in treatment between the ruling party and the opposition. An investigation by The Indian Express in 2022 uncovered that a staggering 95% of the prominent politicians targeted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) since 2014 hailed from the opposition. Such revelations fuel suspicions of political bias influencing investigative actions.
In 2022, the Maharashtra political landscape witnessed significant upheaval as the Eknath Shinde faction splintered from the Shiv Sena to forge a coalition government with the BJP. Subsequently, the Ajit Pawar faction followed suit, defecting from the NCP to join the ruling NDA coalition a year later.
Records indicate that cases implicating two top leaders from the NCP faction—Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel—were subsequently terminated. Maharashtra alone houses 12 prominent politicians among the 25, with eleven of them switching allegiances to the BJP in 2022 or later, including four each from the NCP, Shiv Sena, and Congress.
Noteworthy cases further emphasize this pattern:
- Suvendu Adhikari, embroiled in the Narada sting operation, transitioned to the BJP in 2020. Despite pending investigation by the CBI since 2019, no significant progress has been made, with Adhikari now holding the position of Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.
- Ajit Pawar, facing allegations, witnessed a curious turn of events with the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police first filing a closure report in October 2020, only to seek reopening upon the NDA’s ascension to power. However, subsequent closure followed once Pawar aligned with the NDA.
- Himanta Biswa Sarma, the current Chief Minister of Assam, faced scrutiny in the Saradha chit fund scam in 2014 during his tenure with the Congress. His switch to the BJP in 2015 saw the case remain stagnant ever since.
- Ashok Chavan, former Maharashtra CM, joined the BJP amidst a deadlock in the case against him, further compounded by a Supreme Court stay on proceedings related to the Adarsh Housing case.
Responding to inquiries, a CBI official emphasized that investigations are conducted based on evidence, attributing delays to various factors. Conversely, an ED official clarified their dependency on FIRs filed by other agencies, expressing difficulty in proceeding if cases are closed elsewhere. However, the official asserted that necessary action will be taken when required.
