This is an archive article published on April 25, 2024
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.
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.
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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.
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