He had earlier announced that his party would tie up with the NCP (SP), led by his uncle and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sharad Pawar. The deputy CM alleged that the BJP was attempting to corner him by granting candidature to criminal elements in the city
During the nearly 45-minute press conference, Pawar claimed to have “exposed” the BJP with documentary evidence.
Coming down heavily on his Mahayuti ally, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister (CM) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar on Friday alleged that during the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) tenure, the once-prosperous Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) was pushed into bankruptcy due to corruption.
Pawar made the remarks while addressing a press conference in Pune as part of his election campaign for the Maharashtra civic polls.
He had earlier announced that his party would tie up with the NCP (SP), led by his uncle and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sharad Pawar.
The deputy CM alleged that the BJP was attempting to corner him by granting candidature to criminal elements in the city. During the nearly 45-minute press conference, Pawar claimed to have “exposed” the BJP with documentary evidence, detailing alleged corruption in various civic works, including the dog sterilisation programme. He questioned who was responsible for specific projects and who had allegedly siphoned off public money.
Launching a sharp attack on the BJP’s governance in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pawar said the municipal corporation’s fixed deposits had steadily declined while bond loans were raised.
“Deposits worth Rs 8,000 crore were broken. If that money was spent, then show the development works,” he challenged.
Maharashtra civic polls: Ajit Pawar alleges cartelisation, tender irregularities in PCMC
He alleged that tenders were fixed through cartelisation and that roads were repeatedly dug up and converted into cement roads, leading to severe traffic congestion.
“During our tenure, there were no traffic problems. Today, the city is facing constant traffic snarls,” he said.
Pawar further alleged that under the name of ‘urban streets’, roads had been ruined, encroachments had increased in some areas, and illegal collections were being made. He accused the BJP-led administration of large-scale tender irregularities and questioned how the properties of certain individuals grew rapidly, indirectly targeting Mahesh Landge without naming him.
“We never indulged in arrogance when we were in power. But now there is an intoxication of power,” Pawar remarked. He also made serious allegations of corruption in the dog sterilisation programme and claimed to have presented evidence.
“Corruption has hollowed out the municipal corporation,” he said, adding that for the first time in PCMC’s history, a sitting standing committee chairman, Nitin Landge, was arrested by the anti-corruption bureau.
Highlighting the NCP’s past governance, Pawar said that during their tenure, the city’s reputation improved and development works were carried out without emptying the civic treasury or pushing the corporation into debt. He alleged that due to political patronage, an atmosphere of fear had been created in the city, citing incidents of vehicle vandalism and the rise of ‘koyta gangs’.
“We have entered the electoral battlefield to burn down the monster of corruption. I love this city, and in this election, the clock and the trumpet will fight together,” Pawar said, referring to the symbols of the two NCP factions.
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