Ajit Pawar continues to attack BJP, says Pune got funds but not development

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has claimed at a rally ahead of the civic polls that the local authority had failed to develop Pune city despite receiving financial assistance from the Centre and the state.

This “failure” underscores the need for a change in the city’s leadership, he said in the Baner area on Sunday (January 4).

Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena are part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the state, but are fighting separately in some of the 29 municipal corporations, including Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), that will go to polls on January 15.

'Local authority's responsibilities'

Highlighting issues such as inadequate supply of drinking water, piling garbage, potholed roads, traffic congestion, and “deteriorating” law and order in the city, Pawar said there was a lack of will to address these problems.

Also read: Ajit Pawar blames BJP for lack of development in Pune ahead of Jan 15 civic polls

“We want to eliminate the ‘koyta’ (sickle-wielding) gang and maintain law and order in the city. At the Centre and in the state, we are in the Mahayuti, but the situation in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad is different. The administrators who hold the reins of the PMC are responsible,” he said.

Pawar said he has been discharging his responsibilities as Pune’s guardian minister.

“The municipal corporation has separate powers. The Centre and the state have provided huge funds, but the administrators have fallen short.

“Outsiders will come and go. Recognise your own people and stand by your own people. Pune’s leadership is falling short, while the leadership at the Centre and in the state is strong,” he added.

Pawar takes jibe at the BJP

Pawar has ruffled feathers in his ally BJP with his comments over the past few days.

In his press conferences on Friday and Saturday, Pawar had alleged corruption and irregularities in the civic bodies in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, both of which were ruled by the BJP between 2017 and 2022 before the appointment of administrators.

The remarks prompted Maharashtra BJP chief Ravindra Chavan to hit back at Pawar. Chavan said if the BJP started making allegations, it would create “serious difficulties for him (Pawar)”. Chavan advised the NCP chief to “introspect” before levelling allegations.

Also read: Maharashtra BJP chief tells ally Ajit Pawar to 'introspect' over graft jibes

On Sunday, Maharashtra minister and senior BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule advised Pawar not to target allies during the civic poll campaign.

(With agency inputs)