In a sharp escalation of tensions within the ruling alliance, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar launched a fresh verbal assault on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the ongoing municipal corporation election campaign in Pune on Tuesday. The deputy chief minister accused his Mahayuti ally of failing to value its own dedicated cadre, even as he welcomed disgruntled BJP workers into his own party fold.
War of Words Intensifies in Pune
The political atmosphere in Pune has heated up as alliance partners NCP and BJP continue to trade barbs ahead of the crucial Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) polls. While Ajit Pawar's NCP has formed an electoral understanding with Sharad Pawar's NCP faction for these local body elections, the deputy CM has strategically inducted several BJP members and awarded them tickets to contest.
Addressing a public rally in Pimpri Chinchwad, Pawar pointed to specific examples to underscore his point. He highlighted the cases of Amol Balwadkar and Shankar Chinchwade, both former BJP workers who recently joined the NCP. Pawar not only welcomed them into the party but also gave them tickets to contest the elections. Balwadkar is now in the fray from a PMC ward, while Chinchwade is contesting from a PCMC ward.
"Honouring Good Work," Says Pawar
"The party's leadership has to take care of its workers and ensure that they get due respect for their work," asserted Ajit Pawar during his campaign speech. Questioning the BJP's internal decisions, he asked, "What was the fault of Balwadkar and Chinchwade? Despite their good work, they were denied tickets for no reason."
Pawar positioned his actions as a stark contrast to the BJP's approach. "Though they came from another party, I honoured their work by giving them tickets. I am sure that the voters will take note of their work," he added, appealing directly to the electorate's sense of fairness. His comments were a direct critique of the BJP's governance record in Pune's civic bodies, which the party controlled from 2017 to 2022.
Clarification and Targeted Criticism
Following the BJP's sharp retort warning him of consequences, Ajit Pawar clarified on Tuesday that his criticism was not aimed at the party's top brass. He specifically exempted the central and state leadership from his attack.
"My party is in an alliance with BJP in the Centre where Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put the entire country on the path of development," Pawar stated. "In the state too, I am working closely with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde." He narrowed his focus to the local BJP units that managed the civic bodies. "I am speaking against those who were ruling in PMC and PCMC where Pune's development slowed down due to corruption and poor governance in the last eight years," he concluded.
This public airing of grievances highlights the underlying friction within the Mahayuti alliance as parties navigate the complex dynamics of local elections, where direct competition often overrides national-level partnerships.
