Mumbai, Jan 7 (NationPress) The tensions within the Mahayuti alliance have reached new heights as prominent BJP figures, including state President Ravindra Chavan and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, have initiated a targeted verbal attack against Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar.

This confrontation marks a strategic effort by the BJP to undermine Dy CM Pawar in the lead-up to the crucial Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections, where he faces off against the BJP. In a controversial statement, Ajit Pawar indicated that he is currently governing alongside those who previously accused him of a Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam, providing the BJP with a chance to target him.

The discord stemmed from decisions regarding the forthcoming municipal elections. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier stated that the Mahayuti alliance would not campaign jointly for the Pune elections, compelling Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP to run independently. As a result, Ajit Pawar forged a local alliance with Sharad Pawar’s NCP for the elections in both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The conflict escalated when the BJP criticized Ajit Pawar for nominating candidates with criminal records. Annoyed by these accusations, Ajit Pawar retaliated by targeting Union Minister of State Muralidhar Mohol and revisiting earlier controversies.

Political analysts assert that by bringing up the irrigation scam, Dy CM Pawar may have unwittingly “shot himself in the foot”, offering the BJP new ammunition.

The BJP leadership reacted sternly to these remarks. BJP state president Ravindra Chavan bluntly expressed that the party “regrets taking Ajit Pawar along”.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule cautioned Pawar that “if the pages of history are turned, Ajit Pawar will be left speechless”, emphasizing that such comments should have been avoided. He also reminded Dy CM Pawar that the irrigation scam case is still pending in the courts.

In spite of his reputation for being outspoken, Ajit Pawar has notably refrained from addressing the severe criticisms from the BJP leadership. He clarified that he condemned the irregularities in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation during the BJP’s administration. This clarification is perceived as a necessity for maintaining the stability of the state government.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Nana Patole dismissed the conflict among Mahayuti partners as “Nura Kushti” (a staged wrestling match), implying it is a tactical drama.

However, the BJP seems to be sending a strong message to Ajit Pawar that while they are partners in the state government, the BJP continues to be the prevailing force, and Pawar’s past vulnerabilities remain a significant political weapon.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)