PUNE, 10 NOV. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has landed in a difficult situation right before the local body elections. The allegations concerning the land purchase by Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth Pawar, have caused significant embarrassment for the Mahayuti (grand alliance) government.
The Allegation and Political Fallout
Parth Pawar's company allegedly purchased 40 acres of prime government land in Pune city. The land, reportedly valued at ₹1,800 crore, was allegedly acquired for a mere ₹300 crore. Crucially, despite Parth Pawar holding a 99% stake in the purchasing company, his name is absent from the First Information Report (FIR) filed in the case. With local self-governance elections approaching, this controversy has put the NCP on the back foot.
Devendra Fadnavis Orders Inquiry
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar initially attempted to downplay the issue, stating that Parth was unaware the land was government-owned and that the transaction had been cancelled. However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took a more serious stance, ordering an inquiry into the matter.
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Inquiry Head: The investigation will be conducted by a committee led by Vikas Kharge, Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department.
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Report Timeline: The committee is expected to submit its report to Chief Minister Fadnavis in a month or more.
Sources indicate that in a recent meeting, Fadnavis informed Ajit Pawar that the case was serious and could lead to trouble for him or his son. Fadnavis reportedly emphasized the necessity of the inquiry, stating that failure to act would send a wrong message to the public before the local body polls. He also suggested that a lack of action could lead to a public interest litigation (PIL) in court, accusing the government of protecting those involved in the alleged scam.
Advantage for BJP in Upcoming Polls
The month-long or longer inquiry has created a predicament for Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP, especially as seat-sharing discussions are expected to take place during the same period. BJP functionaries believe that this "time bomb" set by Fadnavis will push the Ajit Pawar-led NCP onto the defensive during the elections, directly benefiting the BJP.
This controversy is expected to give the BJP an edge in local polls across Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Those close to Ajit Pawar feel that the drawn-out inquiry process will force the NCP to concede ground to the BJP in seat-sharing for the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporations, Zilla Parishads, and Nagar Panchayats. The NCP holds significant power in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, having been the ruling party in both municipal bodies until 2012 before becoming the second-largest party.
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