All eyes on ‘Adarsh’ allies

Parth Pawar, son of Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar and one of the stakeholders in a company that allegedly bought a land meant for the marginalised in Pune that belongs to the government. Pic/Instagram/@parthajitpawar

A fresh controversy has erupted over a Pune land deal involving Parth Pawar, son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. For many, it brings back memories of the Adarsh housing scam more than 15 years ago, when influential government officials were accused of bending the rules to grab prime land in the posh Colaba area of South Mumbai. The two cases are not identical, but the questions about influence and fairness raised in both instances remain the same.

In 2010, when the Adarsh scam broke out, the BJP, then in the Opposition, built pressure on the Congress-led government. This ultimately forced the resignation of Ashok Chavan, then the chief minister, who is now a BJP MP.

For many, the Pune land deal appears like another addition to Maharashtra's long list of real estate disputes. But the situation today is very different. The BJP, which once claimed the moral high ground and attacked others over questionable land deals, now faces similar questions while being in power both at the Centre and in Maharashtra.

A government with 232 MLAs in a 288-seat House is expected to place accountability above everything else. Yet the handling of this case has led to doubts about whether political convenience is again being prioritised over clean governance.

The Pune land deal began as a routine real estate transaction. According to land records, the plot in question belongs to the government and, therefore, cannot be sold. The issue became a major political storm, especially since one of the stakeholders in the company buying the land was Parth Pawar.

The timing could not have been worse for the ruling Mahayuti alliance, as local body elections across the state are just around the corner.

For the Opposition, this controversy is nothing short of a political windfall.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has found fresh ammunition against the ruling Mahayuti. But the real test is whether it can convert this controversy into a larger narrative about governance and fairness.

To be clear, this single controversy alone is unlikely to change the election result of municipal corporation elections, which often revolve around local issues, such as water supply, roads, garbage management, and corruption at the ward level.

But it certainly has the potential to damage the moral credibility on which the BJP has built its political brand. Any sign that rules are being bent to protect allies can weaken this image.

The issue is not limited to irregularities and corruption. It is about fairness and social justice.

What makes the land deal more sensitive is that the plot that was originally meant for marginalised communities (Mahar Watan) was being acquired by a member of one of the most powerful families in Maharashtra's politics.

Ajit Pawar is no stranger to controversy, and the BJP itself had once targeted him over the alleged Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam in Maharashtra. Today, the same Ajit Pawar is a key partner in the BJP-led government, which came to power promising zero tolerance towards corruption. This makes the stakes much higher. Every issue involving an ally now becomes not only a political embarrassment but also a test of the government's sincerity.

What has upset many social activists, legal experts, and, of course, the Opposition, is the way Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also heads the home department, handled the FIR in the Pune land case. The police filed a case naming a partner who owns just one per cent of the company, but left out Parth Pawar, who holds 99 per cent. This has naturally raised eyebrows. To many, it sends the message that those in power still get special protection. Realising this development could damage his government and own image, Fadnavis quickly stepped in and clarified that as the investigation moves forward, everyone involved will be named and no one will be spared.

There is also discussion about whether an independent inquiry is needed as a probe led by an external agency or retired judge, experts argue, could help restore public confidence.

It's a classic case of a political tightrope and every step being watched closely by voters and the Opposition. This is where the BJP and its allies may find themselves on shaky ground, especially at a time when the state government is dealing with other challenges, such as rural anger over unfulfilled loan waiver promises made during the 2024 Assembly polls and social tensions related to caste quota demands. The Pune land deal adds yet another layer of pressure, threatening to retard the ruling alliance's political momentum.

However, a section of the BJP leaders believe that a positive national-level development could help shift the narrative in favour of the ruling regime, especially for the BJP.

Saffron brigade leaders argue that a strong national wave created after the outcome of the Bihar elections will help the Mahayuti alliance in the upcoming local body elections, which are often described as ‘mini-Assembly polls'.

If the BJP cannot explain why the rules seem to bend for its ally, it risks creating a new version of "Coalition Adarsh" where moral high ground yields to political convenience.

At the same time, if the Opposition, despite such an opportunity, still fails to mount a credible challenge against the Mahayuti, it will have only itself to blame, clearly indicating the MVA's lack of unity and a weaker Opposition in the state.

The real test for Mahayuti and MVA lies not in the courtroom or the FIR file, but where it matters most in an "Adarsh democracy", the ballot box.

Sanjeev Shivadekar is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @SanjeevShivadek
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