Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has landed himself in the middle of a loud political row after a sharp message he delivered at a campaign rally in Malegaon, Baramati tehsil.
Speaking to voters ahead of the Malegaon Nagar Panchayat elections, Pawar linked development funds directly to support for his party’s candidates, a statement that has now drawn strong reactions from the opposition.
Pawar, who also handles the state’s Finance Department, reminded people that while voting power lies with citizens, the power to release funds rests with him. His comment came as he campaigned for all 18 candidates from his panel which includes nominees from the NCP and its alliance partners.
Standing before a packed gathering, Pawar told residents that Malegaon has many opportunities to grow if the town elects his entire panel.
“There are many schemes from the Centre and the State. If we work together, development will be fast,” he said. He promised that if voters backed all 18 candidates, he would deliver everything he had committed.
But he also added a pointed warning: “The vote is in your hands, and the fund is in my hand.”
Also Read: Kerala local body polls: Congress alleges CPM workers kidnapped UDF candidate in anthoor municipality
He urged people to trust the NCP assuring them that Malegaon would see progress similar to Baramati if his panel won completely. “If you trust us, we will not let you down,” he said.
However, these remarks set off fierce criticism. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve attacked Pawar for what he called a threat to voters. He said that public funds come from people’s taxes, not from a leader’s pocket. “If Ajit Pawar is openly threatening voters, what is the Election Commission doing?” Danve asked.
The Congress, too, joined the attack. Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal claimed Pawar’s statement was a sign of deeper trouble within the Mahayuti alliance. He described the current political atmosphere as a “gang war” between the BJP and its allies. Sapkal also claimed that the state government was taking orders from Delhi and accused Pawar of visiting the national capital to secure relief for his son Parth Pawar in an ongoing land deal case in Pune.
Malegaon, like several other towns in Maharashtra, will vote in Nagar Panchayat elections on December 2. The NCP faction led by Pawar is contesting the polls in partnership with a BJP-backed panel.
With Pawar’s remarks now at the centre of a political clash, the election campaign in the region has gained unexpected heat.