The reluctance of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) to aggressively take on the NCP over corruption allegations in a Pune land deal involving the veteran leader’s grandnephew Parth Pawar has created a sense of unease among its Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partner Congress, with many of the view that the NCP (SP) is throwing away an opportunity to demand the resignation of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Parth’s father, and create momentum for the alliance ahead of the local body polls.
“There has always been a systematic plan by the BJP and our allies to weaken the Congress. Now, with Pawar refraining from taking on Ajit, it is out in the open,” former Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said recently, adding that the NCP(SP) should have taken an aggressive stand against Parth and Ajit.
Another senior Congress leader admitted that a united call to demand Ajit’s resignation would have exerted pressure on the government. “However, it seems the decision not to pursue the matter was taken as the Pawar family name was involved,” he said.
The accusations that the NCP (SP) was going easy on Ajit and Parth, while going hammer and tongs against ministers and leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, are also being seen as an indication that the Pawar family stands united despite Ajit splitting the party in 2023.
Since the split, the Pawars have refrained from attacking each other in public, unlike Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray who have publicly sparred since the former walked out of the party in 2022. Even during the campaign for last year’s Lok Sabha polls, where members of the Pawar family were pitted against each other, they chose not to trade barbs.
Last week, even as NCP(SP) spokespersons remained silent on the issue, party MP Supriya Sule, Ajit’s cousin and Parth’s aunt, came out in their support. “First, it was said that Rs 21 crore stamp duty was waived. Now, the figure is Rs 6 crore. Was the stamp duty paid or not? The government should clarify if the deal had taken place or not,” she said.
Pointing out that she had no problem if people thought she was backing Parth, Sule said, “Parth has told me he has done nothing wrong. The Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) should clarify. If the tehsildar says he has not signed on the deal, how can he be suspended?”
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Ajit has already announced the cancellation of the land sale deed.
Two days later, Sharad Pawar, while reacting to the issue, said it was only proper that the entire matter be probed and facts presented before the people. “The CM has publicly said that the matter is serious. He must conduct a probe and put forward the facts of the case,” the NCP patriarch said in Akola, Vidarbha, adding that only Fadnavis can answer why an FIR has not been lodged against Parth.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who has been at the forefront of targeting Sena ministers and leaders, especially Sanjay Shirsat over an alleged land scam, has also stopped short of criticising Ajit and Parth over the issue, directing his criticism instead towards the Mahayuti government.
Many NCP(SP) leaders The Indian Express reached out to said they did not want to get into the matter as “Pawar saheb has already spoken on it”.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
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