Ajit Pawar's Quiet Nagpur Funding: A Political Image Shift in Vidarbha
In a development that challenges long-standing political narratives, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has quietly facilitated significant civic development works in Nagpur city over the past five years. This behind-the-scenes support, now being highlighted by party workers in East Nagpur, presents a contrasting picture to the frequent criticism he faces for allegedly neglecting the Vidarbha region in favor of western Maharashtra.
Targeted Funding During Administrative Vacuum
According to sources within the NCP (Ajit) faction, Pawar facilitated approximately Rs 7-8 crore in development funds specifically for Prabhag 21 in East Nagpur. This area is represented by Abha Pande, the faction's sole corporator in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The funding was strategically channeled between 2021 and 2025, with a substantial portion sanctioned after a critical administrative change.
The timing of these grants is particularly significant. In March 2022, the NMC general body was dissolved, placing the civic body under administrative rule. During this period, most wards struggled to secure fresh capital works due to the absence of an elected House, standing committee, or corporators' authority.
"Despite the administrative vacuum, funds were cleared and projects moved ahead. That did not happen automatically," stated Prabhag 21 corporator Abha Pande, directly attributing the progress to Pawar's personal intervention.
Visible Infrastructure Improvements
The development works executed or initiated during this period include:
- Renovation of several public gardens
- Development of Shanti Nagar Ghat
- Construction of cement concrete roads
- Upgrades to sewer lines
- Various allied infrastructure improvements
Party workers emphasize that this funding translated into tangible, on-ground work rather than symbolic announcements. "People can see the roads, drains and ghat work. These are not paper projects," affirmed Vijay Kumar Pande, a local party functionary.
Contrasting Political Perceptions
Pawar's involvement in Nagpur's development presents a striking contrast to his broader political image in Vidarbha. Opposition leaders have consistently accused him of:
- Prioritizing western Maharashtra, particularly the sugar belt
- Sidelining eastern districts in resource allocation
- Limiting his engagement with Vidarbha primarily to election periods
This episode also revives memories of Pawar's tenure as finance minister during the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, when he faced criticism for stalling state grants to Nagpur city that were originally sanctioned during Devendra Fadnavis's chief ministership between 2014 and 2019.
Hands-On Administrative Approach
Party insiders reveal that Pawar maintained a hands-on approach in this Nagpur prabhag, offering not just financial backing but also administrative guidance to navigate approval processes during the administrator's tenure. His involvement extended to smaller civic interventions, including conceptual inputs for public installations with nationalistic themes.
Broader Implications for Regional Politics
While this targeted funding does not settle the larger debate over Vidarbha's share in state resources, it certainly complicates Pawar's image as an indifferent outsider to the region. For residents of this East Nagpur pocket, these grants demonstrate how political perception and ground-level outcomes do not always align perfectly.
The development also highlights the strategic importance of Abha Pande within the NCP (Ajit) faction. Her closeness to Pawar is further evidenced by her nomination as a member of the Maharashtra State Women's Commission in January 2022, soon after joining his party in 2021.
This quiet yet substantial investment in Nagpur's infrastructure suggests a more nuanced political strategy at play, one that balances regional perceptions with targeted development initiatives that yield visible results for local constituents.
