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Ajit Pawar fires fresh salvo at BJP, Landge: ‘Show me the Rs 40,000-cr devp works you carried out’

Bawankule reminds Deputy CM of ‘Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam’

3 min readPuneUpdated: Jan 7, 2026 06:11 AM IST

Ajit Pawar fires fresh salvo at BJP, Ajit Pawar, irrigation scam, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune news, Pune, Maharashtra news, Indian express, current affairs

Pawar said the BJP state leadership is busy in their respective works and therefore as District Guardian Minister, he was keeping watch over Pimpri-Chinchwad.

EVEN as the Maharashtra BJP targeted him over the alleged Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam, NCP president and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday scaled up his attack on BJP’s five-year rule in Pimpri-Chinchwad, asking the party to show the Rs 40,000-crore development works it claims to have implemented. Pawar also attacked BJP MLA Mahesh Landge, questioning as to who is doing “dadagiri” in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The BJP ruled Pimpri-Chinchwad from 2017 to 2022 after which the state government appointed an administrator, whose termed ended last year. Pawar last week attacked the BJP’s five-year in power as well as the administrator, saying it was “corruption ridden”.

At an election rally in Pimpri on Tuesday, Pawar scaled up his attack on BJP rule. This came on a day when BJP Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule reminded Pawar of the “Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam”. Bawankule said Pawar should remember he was still not out of the woods.

“In the last five years, Pimpri-Chinchwad’s condition has worsened. Local BJP leaders are claiming they have implemented development works worth Rs 40,000 crore. But show me the works worth Rs 40,000 crore? Where is the development? Where has the money gone? Shouldn’t we ask questions,” Pawar said while introducing the party candidates. The party has fielded Sandeep Waghere, Dabbu Aswani, Nikita Kadam and Priyanka Kudale from Pimpri.

Pawar said the BJP state leadership is busy in their respective works and therefore as District Guardian Minister, he was keeping watch over Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Pawar said he ensured development of Pimpri-Chinchwad during NCP’s rule. “I ensured development of Pimpri-Chinchwad but never took loan. Now the deposits of PCMC, which were over Rs 4,000 crore, should have surged to Rs 10,000 crore in last nine years but in reality, they have dipped to Rs 2,000 crore. They (BJP) should provide information on its development work worth Rs 40,000 crore and where was the money spent,” he said.

“I made Mahesh Landge the corporator and chairperson. He had rebelled against our candidate Vilas Lande during the Assembly election. After that, who is doing ‘dadagiri’? Who is indulging in corruption.” Pawar, without naming Landge, said, “How much wealth has he accumulated? Where has the money come from?”

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Bawankule, who was also in Pimpri-Chinchwad, hit back at Pawar, saying he should remember he was still not out of the woods in the “Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam”.

“If we turn back the pages, Ajit dada will not be able to speak. He should remember the court verdict in the Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam has not yet come out. The hearing is underway in court. The matter is sub-judice. Ajit Pawar is a mature leader. There is no need to rake up such issues in civic elections and we should not create differences I’m sure Ajit Pawar will think over it. He is an important Mahayuti leader.”

In his speech, Landge said, “Some people are stooping low while making allegations. We do not want to get into a duel with them.”

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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