Ajit Pawar fires fresh salvo at BJP, Landge: ‘Show me the Rs 40,000-cr devp works you carried out’

Pawar said the BJP state leadership is busy in their respective works and therefore as District Guardian Minister, he was keeping watch over Pimpri-Chinchwad.

EVEN as the Maharashtra BJP targeted him over the alleged Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam, NCP president and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday scaled up his attack on BJP’s five-year rule in Pimpri-Chinchwad, asking the party to show the Rs 40,000-crore development works it claims to have implemented. Pawar also attacked BJP MLA Mahesh Landge, questioning as to who is doing “dadagiri” in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The BJP ruled Pimpri-Chinchwad from 2017 to 2022 after which the state government appointed an administrator, whose termed ended last year. Pawar last week attacked the BJP’s five-year in power as well as the administrator, saying it was “corruption ridden”.

At an election rally in Pimpri on Tuesday, Pawar scaled up his attack on BJP rule. This came on a day when BJP Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule reminded Pawar of the “Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam”. Bawankule said Pawar should remember he was still not out of the woods.

“In the last five years, Pimpri-Chinchwad’s condition has worsened. Local BJP leaders are claiming they have implemented development works worth Rs 40,000 crore. But show me the works worth Rs 40,000 crore? Where is the development? Where has the money gone? Shouldn’t we ask questions,” Pawar said while introducing the party candidates. The party has fielded Sandeep Waghere, Dabbu Aswani, Nikita Kadam and Priyanka Kudale from Pimpri.

Pawar said he ensured development of Pimpri-Chinchwad during NCP’s rule. “I ensured development of Pimpri-Chinchwad but never took loan. Now the deposits of PCMC, which were over Rs 4,000 crore, should have surged to Rs 10,000 crore in last nine years but in reality, they have dipped to Rs 2,000 crore. They (BJP) should provide information on its development work worth Rs 40,000 crore and where was the money spent,” he said.

“I made Mahesh Landge the corporator and chairperson. He had rebelled against our candidate Vilas Lande during the Assembly election. After that, who is doing ‘dadagiri’? Who is indulging in corruption.” Pawar, without naming Landge, said, “How much wealth has he accumulated? Where has the money come from?”

Bawankule, who was also in Pimpri-Chinchwad, hit back at Pawar, saying he should remember he was still not out of the woods in the “Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam”.

“If we turn back the pages, Ajit dada will not be able to speak. He should remember the court verdict in the Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam has not yet come out. The hearing is underway in court. The matter is sub-judice. Ajit Pawar is a mature leader. There is no need to rake up such issues in civic elections and we should not create differences I’m sure Ajit Pawar will think over it. He is an important Mahayuti leader.”

In his speech, Landge said, “Some people are stooping low while making allegations. We do not want to get into a duel with them.”