Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has made explosive allegations that have added a fresh twist to the state’s already volatile political landscape. Amid visible unease between his NCP faction and ally BJP—especially over Nawab Malik and corruption-related issues—Pawar has alleged that irrigation project costs were deliberately inflated during the Shiv Sena–BJP government between 1995 and 1999 to raise party funds.
Rs 110 Crore ‘Commission’ Claim
Referring to an irrigation project in the Marathwada region, Ajit Pawar claimed he still possesses the original project files, which, according to him, reveal deliberate cost manipulation.
“During the functioning of the Krishna Valley Development Corporation, when the file for this project came to me, the cost was shown as Rs 330 crore,” Pawar said. “I rejected it. After re-evaluation, it was found that the same project could be completed for Rs 220 crore.”
He alleged that the additional Rs 110 crore was earmarked as commissions.
“It emerged that Rs 100 crore was added for party funds and Rs 10 crore for the concerned officials. If this inflated amount had not been cancelled, it would have led to a massive financial catastrophe for the state,” Pawar said.
The allegation is being widely interpreted as a direct attack on the Shiv Sena–BJP government that ruled Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999, a period when the Irrigation Department was largely under BJP control.
Political Fallout and BJP’s Discomfort
The statement has reportedly left the BJP uncomfortable, especially at a time when relations with Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction are already strained. The BJP had earlier declined to contest the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections together with Pawar’s group unless Nawab Malik—facing corruption allegations—was sidelined.
Pawar further claimed that had legal action been initiated in 1999, it would have caused a major political upheaval in Maharashtra.
Between 1995 and 1999, the Irrigation portfolio was held largely by the BJP, with Eknath Khadse serving as the irrigation minister. Khadse has since joined the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. After the 1999 elections, the Congress-NCP alliance came to power, and Ajit Pawar was allotted the Irrigation Department. It was during his tenure that allegations related to the Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam later surfaced.
Fadnavis’ Swipe and Rising Tensions
Ajit Pawar’s remarks come shortly after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticised him for attacking the BJP during civic election campaigns in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, where the allies are contesting separately.
“I have followed the rule of friendly contests till now, but his restraint seems to be shaken,” Fadnavis had said, reacting to Pawar’s aggressive campaign rhetoric.
NCP Reunion in Pune
In Pune, both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party have come together to counter the BJP, which has been steadily expanding its footprint in what was once considered an NCP stronghold.
Calling the reunion a positive development, Ajit Pawar said the decision was driven by grassroots workers.
“If we had contested separately, the votes would have been split. That was something the workers wanted to avoid,” he said, dismissing reports that he had insisted on using only the clock symbol.
His statements have once again fuelled speculation about a broader reunion of the two NCP factions.
Are BJP-NCP Ties Under Strain?
Ajit Pawar has denied that relations with the BJP are strained, insisting that the aggressive campaigning for local body elections will not impact the alliance at the state level. However, political observers note that his remarks on past irrigation irregularities appear to be a calculated counterattack, especially as he shares power with a party that has repeatedly accused him of corruption.
By projecting himself as a leader who scrutinised files and allegedly saved the state hundreds of crores, Pawar has also turned the spotlight back on the BJP’s past record—effectively responding in kind to the corruption allegations levelled against him over the years.