Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar did not violate the Model Code of Conduct with his “funds for votes” remarks, according to a report submitted by returning officer of Baramati Lok Sabha constituency.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Sharad Pawar, had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) accusing Ajit Pawar of violating the Model Code of Conduct and the Representation of the People Act.

During a recent poll rally in Indapur within the Baramati constituency, Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, said, “…As far as funds are concerned, we will cooperate to give you as much as you want, but at the same time, the EVM button needs to be pressed in abundance. If the EVM button is pressed in abundance, I will also feel good allocating funds, or else, I will have to restrict myself.”

As Opposition parties criticised, the returning officer of Baramati, Kavita Dwivedi, conducted an investigation following the complaint and concluded that there was no violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Dwivedi’s report noted that Ajit Pawar’s remarks did not specify any particular candidate for whom votes were being sought, and therefore did not breach electoral guidelines.

“He is heard saying that press the buttons of ‘our’ machine so that he can allocate the funds. Here the word machine is universal and he is not talking about a particular candidate or his candidate or party,” said Dwivedi.

Dwivedi said she has sent the report to the District Collector Suhas Divse, who is the District Election Officer and marked the copy to the State Election Commission as well.

The electoral contest in Baramati is notably significant, with Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra, an NCP candidate, facing off against her sister-in-law and incumbent MP Supriya Sule. Sule, nominated by the NCP (Supriya Pawar), is part of the opposition coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP aligns with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra.

Baramati is slated to vote in the third phase of the general elections on May 7.