State BJP Chief Says He Warned Fadnavis Against Ajit Pawar Tie-Up

Mumbai: Fueling tensions within the Mahayuti alliance, Maharashtra BJP chief Ravindra Chavan on Saturday said he had repeatedly warned Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis against aligning himself with Ajit Pawar and urged him to “think carefully”. He said some leaders had privately expressed concerns about the way he joined the alliance.

Mr. Chavan’s remarks came a day after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) national president and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar alleged that the BJP was involved in large-scale corruption in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).

Addressing the campaign launch rally for the BJP candidates contesting the PCMC elections at Bhakti-Shakti Chowk in Nigdi, Mr. Chavan said that the BJP workers from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad had expressed their displeasure over the alliance. “I would specifically say to Devendra Fadnavis ji: ‘Saheb, please think carefully.’ “BJP workers here tell me this every day,” he said.

Election incharge and Chinchwad MLA Shankar Jagtap, Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landge, MLC’s Amit Gorkhe and Uma Khapre and BJP Pimpri-Chinchwad city president Shatrughna Kate and others attended the rally.

Mr Chavan also issued a warning to Ajit Pawar, warning him not to “mess with a wrestler”, referring to BJP leader Mahesh Landge.

While the BJP leader described Mr. Pawar as “an otherwise good person”, he claimed that he was being manipulated by unnamed “agencies” to spread false narratives. “He is even informed which shirt he will wear. Ajit Pawar was aligned with us at the Center and the state, but the ground is shifting from under his feet in the PCMC elections. That is why he is making allegations,” Mr. Chavan said.

He maintained that the BJP is contesting the PCMC elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and reiterated the government’s commitment to the principle of “Na khaunga, na khane dunga” (I will neither take bribe nor allow others to do so). Claiming to have a strong organizational presence in Pimpri-Chinchwad, he said voters will support development and ensure the return of the BJP to power in the civic body.

Later, responding to a question on whether the BJP regretted bringing the Ajit Pawar-led NCP into the Mahayuti alliance, Mr. Chavan answered in the affirmative, saying party workers had raised such concerns time and time again.

Earlier, Mr Pawar had accused the BJP leaders of “ruining Pimpri-Chinchwad due to their dire hunger”. Denying the accusation, Mr. Chavan said, “Ajit Pawar should look at himself. He should think about which party he is talking about – a party led by Narendra Modi and Devendra Fadnavis. If we start making allegations, he will face difficulties.”