How Ajit Pawar generated heat on PCMC poll terrain, pushed BJP into a corner

The Deputy Chief Minister made a slew of allegations of corruption during BJP rule in PCMC from 2017 to 2022 and subsequently under the administrator. He directly alleged that open loot was going in PCMC in last nine years. The BJP leaders failed to counter the allegations, instead they raked up the old allegations of Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam involving Ajit Pawar and the allegations of purchase of government land by his son.

At his every election rally or press conference, Ajit Pawar started off by underlining that PCMC deposits have come down drastically. “At one point of time, PCMC had deposits worth over Rs 4500 crore. Instead of going up to Rs 9000 crore in last nine years, they have come down to Rs 2000 crore. Where has all the money gone?,” he asked.

Pawar said in last nine years, PCMC must have presented a budget of Rs 60,000 crore. “If Rs 20,000 crore went for salaries of the employees, where are the development works of Rs 40000 crore,” he asked.

Pawar said tenders were bagged by contractors by forming a ”ring.” ”And the contractors were doled out to the near and dears of the local leaders,” he said.

On top of that the contractors got away by making potholed roads, he said. He alleged that cost of pedestrian bridge built in Bhosari which was Rs 7 lakh was inflated to Rs 7 crore.

In the name of urban street planning, Pawar said footpaths have become bigger than roads and encroachments and traffic jams have become the order of the day under BJP rule. “When NCP ruled Pimpri-Chinchwad, anyone can reach their homes without getting caught up in traffic jams. Now every day traffic jams have become a nightmare for citizens,” he said.

Pawar was also severe on sterilisation of stray dogs. ”When everything was shut during Covid period, the rulers implemented a sterilisation programme. Crores were spent on sterilisation of stray dogs… thousands of dog bite cases have been reported,” he said.

Pointing out how corruption had reached high under BJP rule, Pawar said, ”A standing committee chairman was caught taking bribe during BJP rule. This had never happened in the history of Pimpri-Chinchwad.”

The Deputy Chief Minister said bonds were floated and loans were taken. ”NCP never had to resort to taking loans during its 25 year tenure. But during the last nine years, PCMC was put neck-deep in debt,” he said.

Pawar said residents had to struggle to get daily stock of water. ”Water is available every alternate day. Residents have to get up early in the mornings to get their daily stock of water. No initiative was taken to implement the stalled Pavana pipeline project which could have helped increase water stock and get clean water for Pimpri-Chinchwad,” he said.

Pawar said tanker mafia was calling the shots in Pimpri-Chinchwad. ”The rulers here ensured that water does not reach some areas. Then then put tankers in place. The tanker contract was given to their close ones. This is how they ruled the PCMC,” he alleged.

While Pawar was on a roll, BJP leaders were found wanting in countering him. First, BJP state president Ravindra Chavan landed in Pimpri-Chinchwad to launch party’s campaign. In his speech, he left to it Mahesh Landge to take on Ajit Pawar. ”Our Bhosari’s wrestler will counter the allegations,” he said.

Even Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who addressed a rally in Nigdi, did not come to the rescue of Landge and the local BJP unit. He merely asked Landge to cool down as such allegations are part of every electioneering. ”Maheshdada is looking disturbed. During election time, some people suddenly find voice and they start making allegations,” he said while advising Landge not to get angry.

So irritated was Landge by Ajit Pawar’s salvos that he started making singular references to the Deputy Chief Minister which drew flak for him on the social media. Landge then quickly corrected himself.

In his last press conference in Bhosari today, Landge tried to defend BJP rule, saying the party implemented several development projects besides getting more water to the city. ”The allegations levelled are all baseless and he (Ajit Pawar) is making them without any evidence. He is making personal allegations, I have no clue why he is doing so,” he said.

Landge said be it the new building of Pimpri-Chinchwad, the court building, new roads, faster development especially in merged villages of Charholi and others, getting additional water stock from two more dams, the BJP has done several things. ”But our rivals do not want to acknowledge them, they are making political comments and trying to mislead the people,” he said.

Landge said Ajit Pawar was making allegations against him but he seem to forget the allegations levelled against him in the state. ”There is no village, city or area where he has faced allegations of corruption. The cases are pending in court, I do not want to rake them up..I do not want to talk about those who play self-fish politics. I am self-respecting person, I do not have to knock on anybody’s door,” he said.