You have votes, I have funds: Ajit woos voters in M’rashtra

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has told voters at Malegaon in the district that he would ensure there was no shortage of funds for the town, if they elected the candidates of his party; but he too would ‘reject’ if they rejected them.

Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party, was campaigning for elections to the Malegaon nagar panchayat in Baramati tehsil on Friday. Notably, he holds the finance portfolio in the BJP-NCP-Shiv Sena government.

“I will ensure there is no shortage of funds if you elect all 18 NCP candidates. If you elect all 18 candidates, I am committed to give whatever I have promised. But if you reject, I will also reject. You have votes, I have funds,” he said.

The remarks drew flak from the Opposition, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve accusing Pawar of threatening voters. “Funds are given from the taxes paid by the common people and not from Ajit’s house. If a leader like him is threatening voters, what is the EC doing?” he asked.

Elections to the nagar panchayats are scheduled for December 2. The Pawar-led NCP and a BJP-backed panel have formed an alliance in Malegaon.