Kirit Somaiya

Following his tweet to the Prime Minister alleging corruption in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), comedian Kapil Sharma also dragged several prominent political parties into his controversy, alleging that they were extorting money from him. Speaking to the media, Mr Sharma alleged that not just BMC officials, but Shiv Sainiks and MNS workers had also demanded money from him. Political parties had a field day as they piggybacked on Mr Sharma’s claims to settle rivalries.

BJP MP Kirit Somaiya alleged that “Kapil’s claims were just a tip of iceberg and there is widespread corruption in the BMC” and that the Thackerays should be held accountable.

On the other hand, the Congress and NCP targeted both Shiv Sena and BJP, accusing them of ‘feeding corruption’. Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam reminded Mr Somaiya that his party has been sharing power with the Sena in the BMC for the past 25 years. Mr Nirupam said there were a series of corruption cases in the BMC including the road scam and the desilting scam, and Mr Sharma’s case is just one of them.

Opposition leaders also trolled chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for his prompt reply to Mr Sharma’s tweets. Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde claimed that he had been trying to draw the government’s attention to rampant corruption but unlike Mr Sharma, he had not received any reply from the CM. Congress’s Nitesh Rane wore a Kapil Sharma mask ‘hoping that this would draw the authorities’ attention”. While Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray applauded Mr Sharma for being an ‘alert Mumbaikar’ on Twitter, the office of vice-president of the Indian National Congress party, Rahul Gandhi tweeted demanding that Mr Sharma discuss his allegations openly.

Leader of the House in the BMC and Shiv Sena corporator Trushna Vishwasrao asked Mr Sharma to name the official who had demanded the bribe, but Sena corporator Kishori Pednekar dared Mr Sharma to name the Shiv Sainiks who demanded money from him. MNS’s Sandeep Deshpande, who heads the party in the BMC, demanded that Mr Sharma produce proof of his allegations against MNS within the next two days or the party would ensure that his show — Comedy Nights — is shut down. Later, on Friday, evening Mr Sharma tweeted yet again, saying, “I just voiced my concern on the corruption I faced with certain individuals..Its No blame on any political party be it BJP, MNS or ShivSena (sic).”