Tensions have heightened within the Mahayuti alliance as senior BJP figures, such as state President Ravindra Chavan and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, have launched a coordinated verbal attack on Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar. This move by the BJP is seen as an attempt to corner Pawar before the crucial Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections where he faces the BJP.
The conflict stemmed from a disagreement over the upcoming municipal elections. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier announced that the Mahayuti alliance would not jointly contest the Pune polls, leading Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction to go solo. Subsequently, Ajit Pawar forged a local alliance with Sharad Pawar’s NCP in both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
The situation escalated further when the BJP criticized Ajit Pawar for fielding candidates with criminal backgrounds. In response, Ajit Pawar targeted Union Minister of State Muralidhar Mohol and revisited past controversies, sparking a war of words.
Political analysts speculate that by bringing up the irrigation scam issue, Ajit Pawar may have unintentionally provided the BJP with fresh ammunition. The BJP leadership, in a strong response, expressed regret for aligning with Ajit Pawar and warned him about the pending irrigation scam case.
Despite being known for his outspoken nature, Ajit Pawar has chosen not to directly address the BJP’s criticisms. Instead, he clarified his stance on irregularities in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation during the BJP’s tenure, emphasizing the need for state government stability.
Meanwhile, senior Congress legislator President Nana Patole dismissed the internal discord among Mahayuti partners as a “fixed wrestling match,” implying it is a strategic play. The BJP’s stance seems to convey a message to Ajit Pawar that while they are state government partners, the BJP holds the dominant position and can leverage Pawar’s past vulnerabilities for political gain.
