Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has sparked a political controversy by defending his party's decision to support the candidature of relatives of alleged gangsters in the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation elections. Drawing a parallel with his own legal battles, Pawar argued that no one should be labelled a criminal unless charges are proven in a court of law.
Drawing Parallels with Personal Legal Ordeal
Addressing a press conference in Pune on Friday, Pawar cited the high-profile irrigation scam allegations once levelled against him to justify the party's stance. He recalled that accusations of a Rs 70,000 crore scam were made against him, but noted he is now part of a government with the very individuals who had made those allegations in the past.
"Allegations of a Rs70,000 crore scam were made against me; but today I am in the govt with all those who had levelled those allegations. How can anyone be held guilty before the charges against them are proven?" Pawar questioned, without directly naming the BJP. His remarks were a direct response to criticism over his party backing family members of gangsters Bandu Andekar and Gajanan Marne as candidates.
Political Backlash and Counter-Allegations
The decision had drawn sharp criticism from BJP leader and Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol, who is also the party's in-charge for the civic polls in the district. On Thursday, Mohol condemned the move, warning that it would disturb the law and order situation in Pune.
Pawar hit back by referencing the recent case of gangster Nilesh Ghaiwal, who fled the country using a passport obtained with duplicate documents. Opposition parties have alleged BJP members assisted Ghaiwal. "Who helped that person (Ghaiwal) to fly abroad? Who provided him with a passport? Dig out more to find out the names of those who helped him," the NCP chief challenged.
Details of the Controversial Candidates and Alliances
The NCP has fielded Jayashree Marne, wife of gangster Gajanan Marne, from the Bavdhan-Bhusari Colony ward. Furthermore, the party has entered into an alliance with the Republican Party of India (Kharat) for the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporation polls.
From the RPI (Kharat)'s quota, two relatives of gangster Bandu Andekar are contesting. Sonali Andekar, the daughter-in-law, and Laxmi, the sister-in-law, are contesting from the Raviwar Peth-Rasta Peth wards. Bandu Andekar's son, Vanraj, a former NCP corporator, was murdered on September 1, 2024. Vanraj's widow, Sonali, and Laxmi are likely to contest on the NCP's clock symbol.
Explaining the alliance dynamics, Pawar, who is also the guardian minister for Pune, stated, "Along with the alliance with NCP(SP), our party also formed a tie-up with RPI (Kharat), and we gave them certain seats. Now it is their decision to distribute tickets for those seats."
Corruption Charges and Electoral Pitch
Shifting focus to the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, which the BJP won in 2017, Pawar launched a scathing attack on the ruling party. He alleged rampant corruption had bankrupted the civic body, which was once considered the richest municipal corporation in Asia during the NCP's tenure.
"The corporation is ruined by rampant corruption and people should vote us to stop it," he asserted, making a direct appeal to voters to bring his party back to power to restore financial health and governance.
The episode has set the stage for a fiercely contested civic election in Pune, with issues of law and order, political alliances, and corruption taking centre stage.
