Ajit Pawar gets clean chit in funds for votes remark, no code violation, say poll officials

The RO in a report sent to the State Election Commission yesterday stated that there was no violation of the Model Code of Conduct by Ajit Pawar through his remarks made at a rally in Baramati constituency.

Ajit Pawar clean chit, Ajit Pawar MCC violation, Ajit Pawar funds for votes remark

The Returning Officer said Ajit Pawar did not name any party or candidate to whom the votes should be given. (File photo)

THE Returning Officer for Baramati Lok Sabha constituency has given a clean chit to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar over his alleged ”funds for votes” remark. The RO in a report sent to the State Election Commission yesterday stated that there was no violation of the Model Code of Conduct by Ajit Pawar through his remarks made at a rally in Baramati constituency.

”I have repeatedly seen the video of the alleged remarks made by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. I have found that there was no violation of Model Code of Conduct,” Kavita Dwivedi, the Returning Officer for Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, told The Indian Express.

Dwivedi said Ajit Pawar did not name any party or candidate to whom the votes should be given. ”In the video, the Deputy Chief Minister is heard telling voters to cast their vote for the EVM…He is not heard saying that vote to a particular candidate or party. And therefore this does not amount of violation of any code of conduct,” she said.

Dwivedi said she has sent the report to the District Collector Suhas Divse, who is also the District Election Officer, and marked the copy to the State Election Commission as well.

Last week, at a rally of doctors and advocates in Indpaur, Ajit Pawar said, “I will help you get funds as much you want. But if you are getting funds from us, we expect that you will press the button next to our candidate’s symbol. It will make me feel good, otherwise, I will hold back the funds.”

The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) which had lodged a complain with Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) against Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) expressed shock at the clean chit given to Ajit Pawar, calling the election office a puppet in the hands of the Modi Government.

”How can the election officer say that Ajit Pawar did not speak about giving vote to his candidate ? How can the election officer say that Ajit Pawar spoke about giving votes to a machine ? It is obvious that he was pleading for giving votes to his party’s candidate. Who else will he seek votes for ? He is clearly heard threatening voters that if they don’t vote for his candidates, the people of Indapur will not get development funds……The election office is a puppet in the hands of the Modi Government and we were expecting that the election officers will follow the diktat of the government…The clean chit is absolutely ridiculous,” said NCP spokesperon Mahesh Tapase.

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After the video had gone viral, Ajit Pawar clarified that his statement was taken out of context. “There was no violation of any code of conduct. Promises are made by governments before coming to power. That is why I said when our MP is elected from Baramati, we will take up our promises made during the election…,” he said.

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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