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Ajit Pawar keeps silence as CM Shinde, Fadnavis attack MVA Govt

At a press conference held in Mumbai this afternoon, the Mahayuti Government released a report card of its achievements in the last two and half years.

Ajit Pawar addressed the media first. He replied to the charges being levelled by the MVA leaders regarding the Lakdi Bahin Yojana, especially relating to the availability of funds. (Photo: PTI)

EVEN as Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday launched an attack on the previous Maha Vikas Government for its alleged acts of ommission and commission, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was part of the previous government occupying the same post, however kept silent. The Opposition MVA leaders said Ajit Pawar’s silence speaks for itself “as it was clear that he did not agree with the two”.

“Why did Ajit Pawar keep silent when the CM and Deputy CM were attacking the MVA Government? Ajit Pawar had held the second important portfolio of Deputy Chief Minister. He should have replied to the charges being levelled in front of him. Instead he chose to remain quiet which means he did not agree with what was being said,” said Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londe.

At a press conference held in Mumbai this afternoon, the Mahayuti Government released a report card of its achievements in the last two and half years. “The Maha Vikas Aghadi government symbolised corruption while Mahayuti has brought speed in governance,” said Fadnavis.

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Ajit Pawar addressed the media first. He replied to the charges being levelled by the MVA leaders regarding the Lakdi Bahin Yojana, especially relating to the availability of funds. He pointed out the promise by former Congress Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde about waiving electricity bills before the elections. He said the promise was never kept. However, Ajit Pawar refrained from attacking the MVA government.

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On their part, Shinde and Fadnavis alleged that the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government indulged in corruption, espcially during the pandemic and stopped various development projects launched by the Devendra Fadnavis government from 2014 to 2019. They also alleged how journalists like Arnab Goswami were jailed for speaking against the government.

All this while Ajit Pawar kept quiet, said AAP spokersperson Mukund Kirdat. “He should have been the first person to take on the CM and Deputy CM. If he is keeping quiet, does this mean he was part of the corruption as alleged by the two? If the allegations are against Uddhav Thackeray, then they also apply to Ajit Pawar since he was the deputy chief minister. His silence seems to indicate that he did not agree with their contention,” Kirdat said.

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