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Pawar refused to have a “friendly fight” with the BJP in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad after Fadnavis expressed displeasure over the NCP chief criticizing the BJP during the election campaign despite an agreement between the two grand alliance partners.
Despite being a member of the ruling BJP-led government, Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has formed an alliance with his uncle Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) for the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal elections on January 15, shocking the BJP. Addressing an election rally in Pune earlier in the day, Fadnavis said he had deliberately refrained from criticizing the NCP during the campaign, and questioned why Ajit Pawar did not show similar restraint.
“If I am contesting against them (BJP) then how can this be a friendly fight?” Ajit Pawar asked the question while addressing the journalists.
When it comes to criticism of the BJP leadership, he emphasized that he has always praised the BJP-led governments at the Center and in Maharashtra.
“However, if there are shortcomings in the functioning of the civic bodies and I do not highlight them just to maintain a friendly fight, people will make fun of us,” Pawar said.
The NCP leader, responding to Fadnavis’ criticism of the NCP’s election manifesto, reiterated his allegation of corruption in the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations by the previous ruling party (read BJP).
The Chief Minister mocked the NCP’s election promise of providing free metro and PMPML rides in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, saying some people call themselves rich despite having empty pockets.
Responding to the comment, Pawar said it was good that Fadnavis had made such a statement.
“For the last nine years, those who were in charge of the municipal bodies in Pune and PCMC have emptied the treasury. He (Fadnavis) has accepted that the treasury is empty. His question is valid – when the treasury is empty, how will free metro and PMPML travel be provided?” Pawar said.
He said that if NCP comes to power, it will fill the civic coffers and fulfill its assurances.
Taking a veiled dig at the NCP and Ajit Pawar, popularly known as Dada, Fadnavis had appealed to voters to “turn off the Dada-giri alarm” and vote for the BJP on January 15.
He said voters should wake up, switch off the alarm, keep a watch at home, go to the polling booth and press the ‘lotus’ symbol.
It is noteworthy that clock is the election symbol of NCP.
While releasing its manifesto, the NCP had launched the ‘alarm’ campaign highlighting five key civic issues: water supply, traffic, pollution, waste management and related concerns.
Responding to Fadnavis’ appeal, Pawar said the chief minister was right.
“Voters should wake up, switch off the alarm and keep the clock at home, as no party symbol can be carried into the polling booth. If they see symbols other than the clock, an alarm related to civic issues should sound in their minds,” he said. He appealed to voters to support the NCP to quell these alarms.
Pawar also expressed confidence that the NCP will secure majority in both the municipal bodies and will not need the support of any other party after January 16, when the results of all 29 municipal corporations will be declared.