New Delhi: Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Tuesday (November 25) said that if villages under the Karimnagar parliamentary constituency in Telangana elect a BJP candidate in rural body elections, he would allot Rs. 10 lakh for each village from his MPLADS funds. Kumar, who is the Union minister of State for Home Affairs, is a Lok Sabha MP from the Karimnagar constituency.

“Karimnagar villages: Elect a BJP-backed candidate unanimously and get Rs 10 lakh instantly for development. If your village elects a BJP-supported Sarpanch unanimously in Karimnagar Parliamentary constituency, I will directly fund Rs 10 lakh for that village’s development – no delays, no excuses,” Kumar posted on X.

“As your Member of Parliament, I have MPLADS funds available. You already know how we’ve brought in crores through CSR and invested them in improving education and healthcare. As a Union Minister, I’ll secure even more central funds to strengthen Panchayat development,” he added in the post. The rural body elections in Telangana will be held in three phases on December 11, 14 and 17.

In his post on X, Kumar also said that the Bharata Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Congress had made similar promises in the past but did not deliver.

“Only the BJP brings real funds. If Congress or BRS-backed candidates win by mistake, new funds will not come, and even central funds may get diverted. Don’t fall for their tricks. Don’t fall for their inducements. • Vote for BJP-supported candidates. Let’s win together and take our village forward in every way!” said Kumar.

Kumar’s statement comes days after opposition parties in Maharashtra slammed the state’s deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar for his remarks that rejecting his party’s candidates in the Malegaon Nagar Panchayat elections could result in withdrawal of funds for the municipal council.

Opposition parties in Maharashtra had urged the Election Commission to take action against Pawar, whose party is a coalition partner of the BJP-led ruling Mahayuti government.

“The Malegaon Municipal Council’s budget is only Rs. 15 crore, and more funds are needed for development. I had given more funds to Baramati, which is why it is developed today. If you elect our candidates, I am committed to give whatever I have promised. But if you reject, I will also reject. You have votes, I have funds,” Pawar had said.

Reacting to his statement, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Ambadas Danve had slammed Pawar and compared it to threatening voters.

“It is like threatening voters. The funds do not come from Ajit Pawar’s personal finances – they are taxpayers’ money. Why is the Election Commission keeping silent on this issue?” Danve had said.

Mahesh Tapase, spokesperson of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), had also issued a strong condemnation and sought immediate and strict action from the Election Commission of India.

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