BJP Dang unit president resigns after 30-year stint with party

Pawar was later made the director of Adji Jati Nigam by then BJP chief minister Keshubhai Patel. Having worked extensively for 22 years to strengthen the party, Pawar was chairman of Forest Development Nigam for two terms from 2012 to 2018.

In his resignation letter sent to state BJP president CR Paatil Monday afternoon, Pawar mentioned that there was no pressure behind his resignation.

Talking to The Indian Express, Pawar said, “I got to know about the irregularities with the Seasonal Hostel, where parents who go to other states and district for cutting sugarcane leave their children for a few months. There are around 123 such hostels in Dang and the state government spends Rs 1,200 for each student. As per the records, there are 6,000 students in these hostels, as per an RTI reply.”

According to Pawar, he suspected irregularities and urged the district education officer to initiate a probe. “The DEO found that out of 123 hostels, six hostels had no students and that over 1,000 students left the hostels. So where did all the money go? I wrote to the authorities to take action but in vain,” he said.

Pawar also alleged irregularities in mango sapling distribution among farmers in the district. “Under the NREGA scheme, the farmers were given mango saplings at a minimum price of Rs 250 each. The District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) distributed over 4,500 saplings to the farmers and forest department… In my assessment, a small number was given to the farmers. I wrote to the government to initiate a probe but no action followed.”
Pawar said, “Seeing no action taken by authorities, I decided to resign from the party, as I cannot provide justice to the public.”

According to party sources, Pawar had a bitter relationship with Dang BJP MLA Vijay Patel and district panchayat president Mangal Gavit that led to his resignation.