Aaditya Thackeray writes to CM Fadnavis over Pune redevelopment, optic fibre issues

In the letter on Thursday, Thackeray alleged that over the past few months, certain projects in Pune have raised serious concerns, claiming that “builders close to ministers” were being favoured at the cost of local citizens’ rights.

Referring to two specific cases, Thackeray said that in one, a plot belonging to the Jain community with a hostel and temple had been handed over to a builder connected to a minister, while in another, a 16-acre land in Lokmanya Nagar was being handled by another builder.

“Thousands of residents of Lokmanya Nagar had chosen the path of self-redevelopment, appointed their own builders and begun work. Their proposals had been approved, but suddenly the local MLA sought a stay, and the Chief Minister’s Office immediately granted it on 15 May 2025,” Thackeray wrote in the letter.

Questioning the decision, he asked, “What is the crime of these citizens? If they do not want integrated redevelopment and prefer the model they decided, isn’t that their right?” He further urged the Chief Minister not to “support builders trying to swallow Pune.”

The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader also raised objections to the optic fibre contract awarded for the Pune area, claiming it was causing inconvenience to residents as roads were being dug up again. He asked whether the Pune Municipal Corporation was recovering road-digging charges from contractors or if there was “a new rule exempting them from all charges.”

The former Maharashtra minister said the questions had been raised “in the interest of Maharashtra and its citizens” and expressed hope that the government would ensure justice for Punekars.

Fadnavis, Shinde slam Aaditya Thackeray over allegations of tampered voter lists

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde hit back at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray over his claims of tampered voter lists. Speaking to the media, Fadnavis claimed that Aaditya simply copied what Congress had already shown and advised Sena (UBT) leaders not to act like Maharashtra’s ‘Pappu’, a term allegedly used by many in the ruling parties at the Centre and in the state to refer to Rahul Gandhi.

On Tuesday, Fadnavis said, “There was nothing new, and the same old allegations were repeated through the presentation.” A day earlier, Aaditya, highlighting alleged anomalies in voter lists, gave a presentation in Mumbai, titled ‘Bogus Sarkar, Bogus Matadar’ (fake government, fake voters). During the presentation, Aaditya alleged that the root cause behind the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) defeat in the Assembly elections was defective electoral rolls.

In September, on similar lines, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, had made a presentation alleging widespread manipulation in voter lists, charges that were completely refuted by the Election Commission of India. Defending Aaditya, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab questioned Fadnavis over the ‘Pappu’ jibe. “The question was put to the Election Commission. Why are ruling party leaders answering questions put to the commission?”

Eknath Shinde, the leader of the rival Shiv Sena faction, also slammed Thackeray Jr for his remarks. “After the 2024 Lok Sabha results were out, no one complained. But, when the MVA lost the 2024 Assembly polls, the Opposition started making allegations about errors in the voter lists. One should not forget that MVA won the Lok Sabha polls on the same list. Now, when the Opposition is defeated, instead of accepting the public verdict and introspecting, the rival camp is making attempts to find an excuse for its defeat,” he said.

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