Ahead of the Maharashtra local body elections, the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday announced a list of 17 party spokespersons to firmly communicate the party’s stance on key issues, reported the IANS.
The list includes Anil Patil, Rupali Chakankar, Brijmohan Srivastava, Chetan Tupe, Anand Paranjape, Avinash Adik, Sana Malik, Rajlaxmi Bhosale, Suraj Chavan, Hemlata Patil, Pratibha Shinde, Vikas Pasalkar, Rajiv Sable, Prashant Pawar, Shyam Saner, Sayali Dalvi, and Shashikant Tarange.
Notably, Rupali Chakankar, chairperson of the State Women’s Commission, has been retained as a spokesperson despite criticism from party activist Rupali Patil for her remarks on the Satara woman doctor suicide case. Patil, along with MLAs Amol Mitkari and Vaishali Nagawade, has been dropped from the spokesperson list. Patil stated she would discuss the matter with Ajit Pawar and provide further details later, according to the IANS.
Suraj Chavan, previously embroiled in an assault controversy and removed as NCP youth wing state president, has been appointed spokesperson while continuing as state party general secretary.
The announcement coincides with opposition criticism of NCP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar over the Pune land deal involving his son Parth Pawar.
The move comes amid criticism from Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena legislator Mahendra Dalvi, who accused Ajit Pawar of protecting his son in the Pune land deal. NCP has vowed to respond firmly, as per the IANS.
Ajit Pawar had on Sunday said that an inquiry has been launched into the alleged Pune land deal linked to Parth Pawar and that the truth will soon come to light, reported the PTI.
The investigation into the alleged illegal sale of government land in Pune to his son Parth’s company was ongoing, Ajit Pawar said.
Speaking to reporters in Baramati, the NCP chief said that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had appointed the inquiry committee, and that the investigation would reveal all details within a month, according to the PTI.
The controversy centres around the sale of 40 acres of government land in Pune’s Mundhwa area for Rs 300 crore to Amadea Enterprises, a company in which Parth Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s son, is a partner. Though two FIRs have been filed in connection with the deal, Parth has not been named as an accused.
Ajit Pawar said, “I still don’t understand how a document can be registered without a transaction of even one rupee. The inquiry will make everything clear soon,” as per the PTI.
(with IANS and PTI inputs)
