4 months ago
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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis connected Sunday (January 11, 2026) took a swipe astatine Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), for criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the civic canvass run successful Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, saying they had agreed connected "friendly" contests contempt some parties warring separately.
Speaking during an enactment with histrion Girija Oak, Mr. Fadnavis said the BJP and the NCP had decided good successful beforehand that they would not contention the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic elections arsenic allies since some were beardown parties successful the region.
NCP successful talks to state with Shiv Sena successful Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad for polls: Ajit Pawar
Ajit Pawar’s NCP, a constituent of the ruling Mahayuti, has been repeatedly targeting the BJP implicit section governance successful the run-up to polls to the January 15 Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations. He has forged a tie-up with NCP(SP), led by his uncle Sharad Pawar, for the 2 civic bodies.
Asked astir Ajit Pawar’s disapproval of the BJP, Mr. Fadnavis said, “Ajit dada lone speaks, but my enactment speaks. We had already decided past that adjacent if we contention against each other, it would beryllium a affable contention and that we would refrain from criticising each different oregon each other’s parties. I person followed that regularisation till now, but his restraint is somewhat shaken.” However, Ajit Pawar won’t “speak” aft January 15, erstwhile votes volition beryllium cast, said Mr. Fadnavis, exuding assurance successful the BJP's performance.
Asked that helium was being dubbed an adept who brings estranged brothers together, referring to the confederation betwixt Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) main Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) caput Uddhav Thackeray, Mr. Fadnavis said helium is thankful to Mr. Raj for giving him the credit.
When asked whether helium should beryllium credited for Ajit Pawar and his cousin, NCP(SP) person Supriya Sule, joining hands against the BJP successful Pune, Mr. Fadnavis quipped that helium had nary thought whether the member and sister had travel unneurotic oregon whether they would springiness him recognition for it.
To a question astir Mr. Pawar’s promises of escaped Metro and civic transport question to radical successful Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad if their confederation comes to power, Mr. Fadnavis said sarcastically that helium was reasoning astir announcing escaped aerial question for women successful Pune. “What does it instrumentality to marque an announcement?” helium asked.
“When 1 knows they are not going to get elected, they merchandise manifestos and accidental anything. But my constituent is that astatine slightest we should accidental things that radical tin believe, things that are really doable,” said the CM. “Metro corridors not lone beryllium to the State, but besides to the Centre,” helium said.
“When fares are fixed for immoderate Metro route, a fare fixation committee is formed nether the law, and that committee unsocial has the ineligible authorization to determine fares. Even if I consciousness similar waiving the fares tomorrow, I cannot bash so,” helium said.
“If 1 wants to springiness concessions and is not going to retrieve operational costs, wherever the wealth volition travel from,” helium asked. “That is wherefore making promises astir things that are not adjacent successful your hands is misleading,” said Mr. Fadnavis.
Punekars wage their taxes connected clip and bash not privation things for free, said the elder BJP leader. “They privation reliability and dependability. They privation bully Metro and autobus services. For that, they are consenting to wage the minimum required cost,” helium said.
“The residents of Pune are besides good alert that those making specified promises are not going to get elected,” helium said.
About tickets to candidates with transgression background, Mr. Fadnavis, who is besides the State’s Home Minister, said helium is perplexed wherefore determination was a request to favour specified individuals erstwhile determination are 60 lakh radical successful Pune.
He said those who called for an extremity to “koyta” (sickle-weilding gangs) menace successful Pune person nominated persons with a transgression past, indirectly referring to the NCP, which has fixed tickets to transgression Bandu Andekar’s relatives who are successful jailhouse on with him successful the execution of his grandson Ayush Komkar.
“Even if these criminals get elected, their existent spot is jail, not successful Pimpri-Chinchwad,” asserted Mr. Fadnavis.
