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New Delhi: With Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections and 28 other municipal corporations round the corner, there are signs of a rift within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are locked in a standoff over governance, freebies and corruption charges. And their spar has come out in the open.
In the latest showdown, on Sunday Ajit Pawar slammed Fadnavis for his remarks he made during the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) campaign, asserting that he was highlighting governance shortcomings rather than making personal attacks.
At a press briefing in Pimpri after unveiling the joint manifesto of his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), Ajit Pawar said his criticism had mounted as civic elections were being held after a gap of almost nine years. He reportedly pointed out: “I am not criticising the BJP. I am only highlighting mistakes in the PCMC. Pointing out mistakes is not criticism.”
A day before that, Fadnavis had taken a veiled dig at Ajit Pawar at a rally, stating that some leaders tend to become vocal only as elections draw close.
Ajit Pawar alleged massive corruption and misgovernance under the BJP’s rule at the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation between 2017 and 2022. He claimed that the party did not fulfil even a single one of the 27 promises it had made.
Demanding probes into alleged irregularities in slum rehabilitation authority (SRA) projects in areas such as Ravet and Bhosari, Ajit Pawar raises doubts over the true beneficiaries of the transferable development rights given under the schemes.
He also pointed to cost escalation in infrastructure, stating that a bridge project had seen rising costs from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 7 crore.
Releasing the joint manifesto, Ajit Pawar declared that there would be a property tax waiver for houses up to 500 sq ft from April 1, 2026. He added that the draft development plan will be scrapped, daily water supply would be ensured, and free bus and metro travel would be provided. Other promises included improved road infrastructure, pollution control steps, upgraded healthcare facilities, model schools, free tablets for students, and interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh for women who complete skill-training programmes.
Reacting sharply to the comments at a Pune event, Fadnavis said: “Ajit dada talks, I work." He asserted that his government preferred performance over rhetoric.
The BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP are in the fray for the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic polls. They are contesting separately even though they are part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Fadnavis said both sides had earlier agreed to keep the contest “friendly” and free of personal attacks. “I have maintained that restraint, but they seem to have lost patience,” he said. The CM added that election pressure was forcing Pawar to pass such comments.
Reacting to Pawar's free metro travel promise, Fadnavis said it was unrealistic. He explained that metro fares are fixed by a statutory Fare Fixation Committee comprising representatives both the Centre and the state. "“Even if I want to waive fares, I cannot do it. You have to say who will bear the cost,” he said. Fadnavis added Punekars prefer reliable services than freebies.
The chief minister also flayed past urban planning, citing flyovers that were later dismantled for metro projects. He said the government was now putting focus on integrated infrastructure corridors to prevent repeated disruptions. Fadnavis further targeted NCP for fielding candidates with criminal background.
Elections to the BMC and 28 other municipal corporations, including Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, will be conducted on January 15. The counting is scheduled for January 16. As many as 2,869 seats are up for grabs, with more than 3.48 crore voters eligible to cast their votes.
