Ajit Pawar on no alliance with BJP for Pimpri-Chinchwad civic polls: 'Partners in centre, state but direct contest here'

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

• Ajit Pawar defended Mohol's right to speak amid controversy before civic polls
• Congress demanded Mohol's resignation over alleged passport help for Ghaywal.
• BJP and Shiv Sena to clash locally despite state and central alliances

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Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Staurday defended Union minister Murlidhar Mohol’s right to make public statements, while also raising questions that have fuelled a political storm ahead of Maharashtra’s civic polls.

Reacting to Mohol’s remarks, Pawar said, “The Constitution has given him the right to speak.” He went on to refer to alleged controversies, saying, “There is a person named Ghaywal. Look at how he went abroad, also check the Jain Boarding land scam. I am not making any allegation, but I am reminding the media of this.”

Pawar also clarified the political equations between the BJP and Shiv Sena in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, stating, “We have an alliance at the Centre and in the state, but here it is a direct contest,” signalling that the BJP and Shiv Sena would face off locally despite being partners in the ruling Mahayuti coalition.

His comments drew sharp criticism from the Congress. Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Saturday demanded Mohol’s resignation, alleging his involvement in facilitating a passport for a person with a criminal background, an allegation the BJP leader has denied. Sapkal cited Pawar’s press conference to intensify his attack on Mohol.

In an apparent reference to gangster Nilesh Ghaywal, who fled India while facing a firing case, Pawar had questioned who enabled his escape. The Opposition has accused Mohol of playing a role in the issuance of Ghaywal’s passport. Mohol has rejected the charge.

“It is a matter of grave concern for national security that a person with a known criminal history could obtain a passport through political influence. This is a direct violation of the Passport Act, 1967,” Sapkal said. He called for Mohol, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation, to step down and demanded a CBI probe to expose what he described as a “political-criminal nexus”.

Sapkal also targeted the ruling alliance, saying those who once branded Pawar the “king of corruption” were now sharing power with him, exposing “double standards”. Pawar’s earlier remark that he too had faced allegations, including in the Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam, and that no one was a criminal until proven guilty, had come after Mohol criticised the NCP for giving tickets to candidates with criminal links.

The Congress leader further alleged that Pawar’s stance amounted to a challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Sapkal also urged the Election Commission to act on allegations against Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, claims the BJP MLA has dismissed as “baseless”.

Elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra are scheduled for January 15, with counting on January 16.

(With inputs from agencies)