3 min readPuneJan 7, 2026 10:23 PM IST
First published on: Jan 7, 2026 at 10:23 PM IST
After repeated attacks by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, BJP’s Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landge on Wednesday said he (Ajit Pawar) should introspect, especially with regard to corruption allegations. Landge pointed at the corruption allegations in the Rs 70,000 crore irrigation ‘scam’, which the BJP had made against him in the past.
“I don’t think I should reply to his allegations. But since he has been repeatedly making the allegations, I want to ask, ‘look who is making the allegations about corruption?’ Someone who is himself facing allegations related to corruption… Even his son is facing such allegations,” Landge said.
“I want to request him (Ajit Pawar) to introspect. I don’t want to advice as he is the national president of a big party. As a small ‘karyakarta’, I want to request him that he instead of making allegations should talk about development issues. He should deliver speeches about development.”
At a press conference last week and at election rallies on Tuesday, Pawar had repeatedly attacked the BJP rule in Pimpri-Chinchwad, alleging widespread corruption in its functioning. He especially targeted Landge, alleging that he was ”terrorising” people.
Landge said Pimpri-Chinchwad’s population will go beyond one crore by 2041. ”In view of this, let us have discussions along with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Let us sit and talk about development issues…I want to talk about politics of development and not keep making allegations,” he said.
“In the last 30 years, he has only made allegations. His politics has been based on allegations and through it they have ruled us. On the contrary, I never made allegations of corruption. I never said he has done corruption of Rs 70,000 crore or his son has done anything wrong. People will not elect them on the basis of allegations. NCP has even failed to find 128 candidates.”
Landge said he won’t complain to the CM. ”The CM has told us we should follow the ‘yuvti dharma.’ He has told us we should avoid making corruption allegations. But he (Ajit Pawar) can’t speak without making allegations. He says we have not done development…He can’t see the development works. He had come for the inauguration of the police commissionerate because they never set up the police commissionerate for Pimpri-Chinchwad, which has given the city an identity. We have set up a new building for court which otherwise functioning from rented premises from 1987. We have set up a cancer hospital. He can’t see the residential corridor of Chikhli-Moshi-Charholi. He should see the development works undertaken in new villages before 2017 and after 2017 when BJP ruled PCMC. Taxes were collected from the villagers but they were never given even basic amenities.”
On allegations of his “intimidating tactics” made by Pawar, Landge said, ”Those who work against my religion, I will intimidate them, those who keep evil eye on sisters and daughters. I will spread terror among those who do wrong things… He should remember that people will never accept those who ‘terrorise’ people. My tactics are in the interest of the people.”
NCP chief Ajit Pawar during a road show ahead of PMC elections at Deccan area on Wednesday. (Express photographs by Arul Horizon) 
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