Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has stoked a fresh row with his comments wherein he asked voters to choose his party, else he will also “reject” them. He told them that though they have power of votes, he as a minister has funds to implement schemes for them. The comment has gone viral with the opposition calling it shocking and disrespectful to the voters at the same time. 

However, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has supported him, saying that statements like this are made at times. “Bolna padta hai (have to say),” Fadnavis said.

Not just the CM, other leaders have also justified the statement, stating that one has to take the context in mind while making opinions. Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane said that when they ask for votes, they also refer to the fact that they can get more funds for them. 

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“One has to consider the context before and after the speech because similar allegations have been made against me as well. When we assert with authority, ‘Give us your votes because we have the authority to provide funds. We are part of the government. If the power of Kankoli city is entrusted to us, then, as the district guardian minister and a cabinet minister, I can secure as much funding as needed for the people of Kankoli. How else will it come? You tell me, show me the way.’ Ajit Pawar must have taken that stance from this perspective. Only he knows the circumstances and the atmosphere in which he spoke,” he added. 

What did Ajit Pawar say?

Addressing a rally in Malegaon, Pune, Ajit Pawar on Saturday asked the voters to choose NCP and the other Mahayuti leaders in the Nagar Panchayat, else he will cut their funds. 

“Give me victory for all 18 Mahayuti candidates in the Malegaon Nagar Panchayat, and I will fulfill every promise and demand I have made to you. But if you cut votes, then I will also cut,” Ajit Pawar said. 

“If your reject them, I will reject you….You have the votes, and I have the funds, now decide what you want to do…” the Deputy CM said.

Reacting to Ajit Pawar’s announcement, Maharashtra Minister Pankaj Rajesh Bhoyar said the Mahayuti government led by the BJP is in power at the Centre, and in Maharashtra as well. “So if development is needed, then naturally the people there benefit. That is why he appealed that since our government is at the Centre and in the State, if we want local development, then give us your vote in the municipality as well,” he added.

‘How is this happening?’

Expressing shock over the remarks, NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule said this must not be the case in a democratic country, “How is this happening in a democratic country? We must ask the Election Commission,” she said.

Meanwhile, reacting to his statement, Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said Ajit Pawar is the Finance Minister, but decisions on fund allocation are not made by him alone.

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“All financial decisions require the signatures of the Chief Minister and both Deputy Chief Ministers,” he said.

Congress national spokesperson Atul Londhe asked if Pawar has brought funds from his uncle’s house, a reference to Sharad Pawar. 

“Has he brought this fund from his uncle’s house? This is a direct threat that if you do not vote for me, I will not give you funds. No work has been done in 11 years, so now they are giving such bribes, but this is Maharashtra, and Ajit ji must have forgotten that here, dignity works, not bribes,” he said.