In a stunning revelation that has rocked Maharashtra’s political landscape, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has finally broken his silence on one of the state’s most controversial irrigation projects. Speaking candidly during a recent public address, Pawar admitted to irregularities in the implementation of key irrigation schemes that ballooned costs from modest estimates to over Rs 70,000 crore during his tenure as Water Resources Minister.
Pawar, who helmed the irrigation department for nearly 25 years, confessed that decisions were often rushed without proper scrutiny, leading to massive cost escalations and questionable contracts. ‘We made mistakes in haste,’ he stated, pointing fingers at systemic failures rather than individual culpability. This admission comes at a time when the opposition is gearing up for the upcoming assembly elections, making it a potential game-changer in voter sentiment.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), long-time rivals of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), wasted no time in pouncing on the disclosure. Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis raised pointed questions about Pawar’s prolonged silence over two-and-a-half decades. ‘If there were irregularities, why didn’t he speak up earlier? Was he complicit all along?’ Fadnavis asked, demanding a thorough probe into what he called a ‘scam of epic proportions.’
This development unfolds against the backdrop of Maharashtra’s persistent drought-prone regions, where farmers have long alleged corruption in irrigation projects meant to alleviate water scarcity. The Maharashtra Irrigation Scam, as it’s popularly known, has been under the scanner since 2012, with the Anti-Corruption Bureau filing cases against several politicians and bureaucrats. Pawar’s confession reignites calls for accountability, with activists urging the Enforcement Directorate to reopen investigations.
Political analysts see this as a calculated move by Pawar to cleanse his image ahead of polls, especially after aligning with the BJP-led alliance. However, it risks alienating traditional NCP voters who view him as the architect of the mess. As the debate rages on social media and in legislative corridors, one thing is clear: Maharashtra’s water politics just got murkier.
