BJP trying to ‘finish off’ Ajit Pawar politically, says MLA Rohit Pawar

MLA Rohit Pawar criticised the BJP for its silence over former Pune police chief Meeran Borwankar’s allegation in her book that Ajit Pawar had tried to put pressure on her for handing over prime police land to a private builder in 2010.

At a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday, Ajit Pawar denied that he put any pressure for handing over the land to the private party. (Express)

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Maharashtra MLA Rohit Pawar, who belongs to the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has alleged that the BJP was trying to weaken Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and “finish him off” politically.

Rohit’s remarks came while criticising the BJP for its silence over the allegations made by former Pune police commissioner Meeran Borwankar in her book Madam Commissioner where she said that Ajit Pawar had tried to put pressure on her for handing over 3 acres of prime police land to a private builder in 2010. Ajit Pawar has denied the charges.

“Serious allegations have been levelled against Ajit Pawar. He has replied to those charges but the BJP has kept silent. This is the party’s tendency. Earlier too, it has tried to finish off several leaders in the political arena,” Rohit said, interacting with the media in Pimpri-Chinchwad on Tuesday.

Rohit said there was “another angle” to the controversy. “People are talking about attempts to finish off Ajit Pawar politically. BJP has made such attempts in the past too. It has happened in the case of [former minister] Eknath Khadse and Pankaja Munde,” he said.

Referring to Pankaja’s struggles in the BJP, Rohit said, “The BJP leader from Beed has struggled in her own party for whose growth her father Gopinath Munde was instrumental. BJP is behaving in a similar manner with Ajit Pawar. The BJP believes if it resorts to such tactics, the competition ends. But BJP should remember, it doesn’t work in this way. It might be happening in northern states but it will not work in Maharashtra.”

Reacting to the allegations, BJP spokesperson Sandeep Khardekar said, “When the NCP spokespersons and leaders are putting out a defence in favour of Ajit Pawar, where is the need for us to speak on the same issue?”

Khardekar said Ajit Pawar himself has spoken in detail about the project, clearly stating that there was no corruption or illegality in the project. “We also believe that Ajit Pawar is in the clean. The deal did not go through. The project was cancelled by the state government itself. The project was cancelled as the private firm which was supposed to get the contract faced an ED [Enforcement Directorate] case. Therefore, neither Ajit Pawar nor the state government is in the wrong.”

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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