Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis delivered a sharp retort to his deputy, Ajit Pawar, on Monday, defending the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) record in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. Speaking at his first campaign rally in Katraj for the January 15 Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections, Fadnavis urged critics to "look in the mirror" before questioning the BJP's performance.
Political Sparring Heats Up in Pune
The Chief Minister's comments were a direct response to allegations of corrupt governance leveled by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who claimed development in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad had slowed under BJP-led civic bodies. Despite being allies in the state's Mahayuti coalition, the BJP and Ajit Pawar's faction of the NCP are locked in a direct contest for the PMC and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).
Fadnavis stated that if the campaign delves into the past development of Pune, some opponents would "struggle to list out what they did for the city." He also indicated that while his focus for the civic polls was on urban development, he was compelled to respond to opposition criticism, notably in Mumbai, to dispel any perception of weakness.
Pune Metro: A Case Study in Acceleration
Fadnavis cited the Pune Metro project as a prime example of the BJP's effective governance. He claimed that before the BJP won the PMC in 2017, the previous ruling party (NCP) had only made announcements, but the project never took off.
"It was only after BJP started governing in 2017 that the project gained momentum," Fadnavis asserted. He highlighted that work on 33 kilometers of the planned 110-km Metro network is already complete. The Chief Minister promised that upon full completion, mobility in Pune would improve "like never before."
A Rs 44,000 Crore Blueprint for a Vibrant Pune
Outlining an ambitious vision, Devendra Fadnavis announced that the state government has a definitive plan to transform Pune into India's most vibrant city. He revealed a capital investment plan for Pune extending to 2030, with a staggering outlay of Rs 44,000 crore.
This massive investment is projected to quadruple Pune's contribution to Maharashtra's economy within the next five years. The plan underscores the BJP's commitment to positioning Pune as a major economic and urban hub, a central theme in their campaign for the upcoming civic polls.
The political atmosphere in Pune remains charged, with state BJP chief Ravindra Chavan also previously warning the NCP chief of trouble if the attacks continued. Monday's rally made it clear that the BJP is prepared to aggressively defend its track record and promote its future agenda for the city.
