Maharashtra local body elections: Sharad Pawar raises concern about leaders alluring voters with money

Raising concerns about the recent reports alluding to fund distribution by the ruling alliance leaders during elections, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) SP president Sharad Pawar on Thursday (November 27, 2025) said that votes are being sought not on the basis of the work done in the constituencies, but on the basis of funds.

“The competition among the three alliance partners (of Mahayuti consisting of the BJP, the NCP, the Shiv Sena) is to distribute money. ‘I will give money. I will give funds.’ This is not good. If the perspective is to bring in financial aspects to win elections, it is better to not comment,” he said in a brief conversation with journalists at Baramati.

Maharashtra civic body elections on December 2, results on December 3

He said that groups were formed in each party at various places for the local body elections. “A group of one party is seen holding hands of another party. It is clear that there is no unison in these elections. People will take a call on these elections. Before this, people like us had never done anything like this, and we won’t even do it. Only four days are left for voting now. Let’s see what happens,” he said.

The comments came against the background of recent statements made by ruling alliance leaders about distribution of funds. A few days ago, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had said during a campaigning speech, “If you elect all the 18 candidates, I will give you what I have committed. But if you cut on something, even I will put a cut. You have your vote in your hands, I have funds in my hands.” He had later defended his comments saying, “Where did I threaten? You saw in Bihar too. Tejaswi said in Bihar that each household will get a job. Everyone has the right to say what they want to say. It is the voters who take a call on who to vote for. The voters are smart. They will decide.”

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Recently, another Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Minister Gulabrao Patil said during a rally, “Goddess Lakshmi is going to come to your house on December 1. Sleep outside your house and sit up when Goddess Lakshmi comes. All the parties have begun now. I want to tell you, eat the mutton given by them, but vote for us.” The Shiv Sena UBT has asked why the Election Commission has failed to take note of such statements and act against it.

When asked about the comments made by Sharad Pawar, NCP leader Sunil Tatkare told The Hindu, “Pawar saaheb is a senior leader with over six decades of experience. I can’t say anything about him. But I can tell you that all the three alliance partners of Mahayuti have worked for the development of Maharashtra. There can be some differences for local body elections. But they are there in the Maha Vikas Aghadi as well. As a government, as a party, we are asking people for votes on the basis of the development work we have done for the State.”