Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday mounted a strong, indirect attack on the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar over the decision to field candidates
with alleged criminal backgrounds in the Pune municipal corporation elections, questioning the contradiction between repeated political assurances of crime-free governance and the reality of ticket distribution.
He indirectly referred to the NCP’s decision to give tickets to relatives of Bandu Andekar, who is currently in jail, and others accused in the murder of his grandson Ayush Komkar.
The NCP has fielded Sonali Andekar and Laxmi Andekar as candidates in the civic polls, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP.
Speaking during the civic poll campaign, Fadnavis said he was deeply disturbed by the decision to nominate such candidates in a city with a large population, particularly after repeated claims by political leaders that criminal gangs, including the ‘Koyta gang’, would be eliminated from Pune.
“Pune has a population of approximately six lakhs. Why was it necessary to give tickets to people with criminal backgrounds as candidates? Everyone says and believes that crime should be eradicated,” Fadnavis said.
Referring to repeated political speeches promising strict action against criminal gangs, the Chief Minister said, “I have heard many speeches where it was said that the ‘Koyta gang’ would be eliminated from Pune and crime would be rooted out.”
However, he alleged that the same leaders were now contradicting themselves by nominating individuals with criminal backgrounds and publicly backing them.
“But the same people who made these statements are now giving tickets to criminals and even speaking in their support. This is absolutely wrong,” Fadnavis said.
The Chief Minister asserted that voters in Pune would not accept such double standards.
“I think the people of Pune will not accept this at all,” he said.
Fadnavis also said that while he had initially decided to avoid personal comments during the election campaign, the issue compelled him to speak in his capacity.
“In this election, I had decided not to make any personal comments, but when such issues come up, the Home Minister in me asks, ‘What is going on?’” he said.
Highlighting what he called a clear contradiction in political conduct, Fadnavis said, “On one hand, you say that crime should be eliminated; on the other hand, you give tickets to people with criminal backgrounds.”
Issuing a stern warning, the Chief Minister underlined that electoral victories would not protect individuals with criminal pasts from legal action.
“I want to make one thing absolutely clear, even if a criminal wins the election, his place will not be in the municipal corporation, his place will be in jail,” he said.
The issue has previously been raised by BJP leader and Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol, who had also criticised the NCP for nominating candidates with criminal backgrounds in Pune.
Defending his party’s stance earlier, Ajit Pawar had drawn a comparison with allegations made against him in the past.
“Allegations of a Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam were levelled against me. Today, I am in power alongside those who made those allegations,” Pawar had said.
The controversy has also escalated political tensions in the run-up to the January 15 civic polls.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut accused the ruling Mahayuti alliance of relying on “hooliganism” to win elections, claiming that Pune, once known for its beauty, was now being referred to as a “city of goons”.
“Whether it is the BJP or Ajit Pawar’s party, there is hardly any gang whose relatives have not been given election tickets by these parties,” Raut said at a public rally.
Meanwhile, the State Election Commission has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
Polling is scheduled to be held on January 15, with counting of votes to take place on January 16.
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