23 November,2025 03:56 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
CM Fadnavis. filepic
Days after Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's remarks linking development funds to voter support, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday dismissed the suggestion of discrimination as unintended rhetoric and asserted the government aims to develop all regions.
Chief Minister Fadnavis also dismissed reports of distrust with the Deputy CM and Shiv Sena head Eknath Shinde. He further called the speculation baseless, saying the two leaders continue to meet and interact regularly and that media claims of a rift are misleading, reported PTI.
The Maharashtra Chief Minister was speaking to the media about his distress with the alliance, as reported by news agency PTI.
During campaigning on Friday for elections to the Malegaon Nagar Panchayat in Baramati tehsil of Pune district, NCP Ajit Pawar while addressing the voters asserted that he will ensure there is no shortage of funds for the town if they elect the candidates of his party, but if they reject them, he will also "reject".
Ajit Pawar who holds the finance portfolio in the BJP-NCP-Shiv Sena Mahayuti government emphasised that, "I will ensure there is no shortage of funds if you elect all 18 NCP candidates. If you elect all 18 candidates, I am committed to give whatever I have promised. But if you reject, I will also reject. You have votes, I have funds," quoted by news agency PTI.
Asked about the remarks, Fadnavis further asserted that the government is committed to the development of every region in Maharashtra.
"Many times lot of things are said in a speech (during election), but it does not mean the same. Even if our ally or someone had said like that, it was not their intention and they would never do such discrimination. And certainly, the people will elect Mahayuti in the coming elections, though we may fight separately in some places," the Chief Minister said.
Fadnavis also rejected reports of distrust with Dy CM Eknath Shinde, calling the claims unfounded. He further asserted that, "This is a bazaar of mad people, and some media have also got mad in this bazaar. We, Shinde Saheb and I, met the day before yesterday as well at the Hutatma Smarak programme. We spoke to each other as well. Similarly, yesterday we also met at a programme and spoke with each other," he said.
"There is no reason why we should not talk. There is no such situation that the media is showing, and those people who are showing this will fall on their face."
(With inputs from PTI)
