In a sharp political retort, Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Ravindra Chavan has challenged Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to clarify his recent corruption allegations against the party. The exchange occurred on Saturday, January 3, 2026, amidst the heated campaign for the upcoming elections to the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations.
A Direct Challenge for Clarification
Chavan directly addressed Pawar's accusations, questioning their target. He demanded that the NCP leader specify whether his charges were aimed at the Narendra Modi-led Central Government or the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra State Government. Chavan pointedly noted that these allegations surfaced against the backdrop of the ongoing civic elections, suggesting a political motive rather than a genuine concern over governance.
"If Pawar was serious about these corruption charges, then he should have approached a government agency to investigate them," Chavan stated, casting doubt on the sincerity of the allegations. He emphasized that the BJP is contesting the elections with a clear agenda focused on the city's development, leveraging its power at both the state and central levels.
A Warning and a Counter-Threat
The BJP state chief did not stop at seeking clarification. He issued a stern warning to the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Chavan cautioned that the NCP would find itself in significant trouble if the BJP decided to start levelling its own corruption allegations in return. He advised Pawar to think carefully before making such statements in the future.
This war of words highlights the intense and bitter rivalry between the two Mahayuti alliance partners as they prepare for a direct contest in the crucial urban local body polls scheduled for January 15, 2026.
Dismissing Broader Allegations
Chavan also took the opportunity to dismiss charges from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, which alleged that BJP candidates were winning unopposed in various civic bodies across Maharashtra by using monetary influence. He offered a political explanation for such instances.
"For example, in Kalyan Dombivli, the BJP and Shiv Sena were the main rivals but are now contesting in an alliance. Therefore, there is no strong opponent now," Chavan explained, attributing the lack of opposition to shifting political alliances rather than any undue pressure or power.
As the campaign intensifies, Chavan made a final appeal to the voters of Pune, urging them to elect the BJP to power in the civic body to ensure the continuity of the city's rapid development, a promise he ties directly to the party's dual presence in the state and central governments.
