Nagpur: Two days after deputy CM Ajit Pawar‘s ‘no vote, no funds’ threat in Baramati, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule on Sunday said EC must monitor such remarks. Seeking a public apology from Pawar, her party spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said the poll watchdog must take immediate action.“In a strong democracy, it is [EC’s] moral responsibility to monitor such statements, but we can’t see such thing happening nowadays,” said Sule. Tapase said explicitly linking development aid to electoral success is a corrupt practice and a gross misuse of the power entrusted with Pawar as finance minister. “These remarks are nothing short of threatening and intimidating the electorate… Any attempt by a powerful public office holder to coerce the franchise is a direct attack on democracy itself. Ajit Pawar is the custodian, not owner of public funds.” He asked why EC was staying a “silent spectator”. CM Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the suggestion of discrimination as unintended rhetoric and asserted that govt aims to develop all regions. “Many times, a lot of things are said in a speech [during poll campaigns], but it does not mean the same,” he said. During campaigning for elections to Malegaon nagar panchayat in Baramati, Pawar had said he’d ensure there was no shortage of funds if they elected his party’s candidates, but if they rejected them, he would also “reject” them. PTI
