Ajit Pawar's U-turn after all-out attack on BJP: 'Misquoted...Maharashtra govt doing good work'

Ajit Pawar, NCP chief and Deputy CM of Maharashtra. (File photo)

• Ajit Pawar says his remarks on BJP were misrepresented by media
• He denies making allegations against the Maharashtra government
• Pawar criticizes BJP's governance in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune civic bodies

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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday sought to clarify his recent remarks on the BJP, saying his comments had been "misrepresented" by the media and insisted that he had not levelled any allegations against the ruling alliance in the state.

Speaking to reporters, Pawar said his statement was intended at underlining that both the Centre and the state government were functioning effectively, but only selective portions were highlighted.

"The media has presented my statement differently. Allegations were not levelled. The Maharashtra government is doing good work. Work is being done under the leadership of Narendra Modi and similarly under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis. That is what I said, but my complete statement was not shown," Pawar said, according to ANI.

The clarification comes amid visible unease within the ruling Mahayuti, particularly after Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) entered into a tactical understanding with his uncle Sharad Pawar's faction for the Pimpri-Chinchwad civic polls.

In recent days, Pawar launched a sharp attack on the BJP's tenure in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), alleging financial mismanagement and poor governance. He claimed that the civic body's deposits fell sharply from Rs 4,844 crore to around Rs 2,000 crore during the BJP's rule and accused the party of pushing the corporation into debt without delivering corresponding infrastructure development.

Pawar also flagged worsening traffic congestion and alleged that road widths had been reduced, making travel within the city more difficult. He further claimed that "mafia activities" had taken root in Pimpri-Chinchwad under BJP rule.

Pawar also defended his party's decision to field candidates with criminal backgrounds in the upcoming civic polls, responding to criticism from Union minister and BJP leader Murlidhar Mohol.

"Everybody knows that allegations of a Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam were levelled against me. Today, I am in power alongside those who made those allegations. Can a person be labelled guilty even before it is proven?" Pawar said.

Pawar accused the BJP's local leadership of failing to utilise funds despite having a clear majority in the Pune Municipal Corporation. "The central and state governments gave sufficient funds to the Pune Municipal Corporation, but the local leadership failed to utilise them. Even after funds were allocated for land acquisition, they could not acquire even 50% of the required land," he said.