New Delhi: Opposition parties in Maharashtra have 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.

Pawar made the remarks while campaigning for the Malegaon Nagar Panchayat elections on Friday (November 21)

“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, reported Hindustan Times.

Reacting to his statement, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Ambadas Danve 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?” said Danve.

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

Later, while speaking to reporters, Pawar denied that his remarks were akin to threatening voters.

“Where did I threaten? You saw in Bihar too. Tejashwi said in Bihar that each household will get a job. Everyone has the right to say what they want to say. It is the voters who take a call on who to vote for. The voters are smart. They will decide,” Pawar told reporters on Sunday (November 23), reported The Hindu.

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