Maharashtra BJP MLA Mahesh Landge (right) and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar (left). (Photo: Express/Instagram @maheshklangde)
Stating that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was making false allegations but that he “respects” him, BJP’s Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landge on Sunday alleged that the NCP national president had taken the people of Pimpri-Chinchwad for a ride.
“They (Ajit Pawar) has always indulged in making false allegations, in making defamatory statements and taking people for a ride. After taking votes, he disappears for five years only re-appear during elections time,” Landge said at an election rally in the Chikhli area on Sunday evening.
Landge, who has come under fire for allegedly showing “disrespect” towards the Deputy Chief Minister in his election speeches, however, said, “He (Ajit Pawar) is a respectable person…I respect you but you have let down people of Pimpri-Chinchwad who gave you a long term at the helm in PCMC, you cheated them…you never fulfilled the promises you made to them. This is how you have been working in Pimpri-Chinchwad for last 30 years..He still expects that Pimpri-Chinchwad citizens should vote for him. Why will they vote for him ? They thought he would resolve their problems, but he never did that.”
Landge had earlier drawn criticism from NCP leaders and workers for making singular references to the Deputy Chief Minister during election rallies in Pimpri-Chinchwad. On one occasion, he had even made such a reference in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Ajit Pawar, however, downplayed the issue, saying, “He (Landge) is a big leader and therefore underrates him.”
Alleging that Ajit Pawar does not engage with civic issues after elections, Landge said, “If there is a problem like excess rain leading to flooding or other problems faced by citizens, I am always there…but he never shows up.”
Landge also alleged that the NCP had tried to defame him during the 2014 elections and repeated the attempt in the 2019 polls, adding that despite this, he was defeated by voters in Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Curated by Aisha Patel
