After hue and cry on fund allocation, Ajit Pawar says ‘followed MVA pattern’

Pawar’s reply led to an uproar from Congress MLAs who alleged biased treatment from the minister. During the Maha Vikas Aghadi regime, the Bharatiya Janata Party had alleged unequal distribution of funds. Blaming then Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde had rebelled against the MVA government.

As Congress MLAs continue to protest, Pawar said if he wanted to distribute funds unequally, he would not have given funds to Congress Legislative Party leader Balasaheb Thorat. “I understand that MLAs represent four to five lakh people. I have not stayed any developmental work,” he said.

Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav questioned Pawar as to whether he stayed projects of deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis or not (during MVA), to which Pawar said that he will find out and let the House know.

While debating the Appropriation Bill, Congress MLA Nana Patole pointed out that it was Sena MLAs under CM Eknath Shinde who had claimed that they were troubled about fund allocation by Ajit Pawar and had chosen to quit MVA. “Why is it that Congress MLAs are being targeted? The Speaker must ensure that an equal amount of funds are distributed to all,” he said.

Pawar claimed that one has to pay for one’s past deeds. “Nobody is going to be here (the ruling side) for eternity. We are here till people support us. But one should recollect what happened during the MVA government,” he said. Pawar claimed that certain MLAs had opposed the installation of a statue of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the north Mumbai Lok Sabha constituency, and another minister had opposed the Olympic Bhavan in Pune.

While Congress MLAs demanded a vote, the Bill was passed by voice vote, leading to opposition MLAs boycotting proceedings. The Congress on Monday had said that it would approach court if the injustice continues.