Maharashtra BJP leader claims Rohit Pawar will join Congress; he denies

BJP MLC Parinay Fuke on Thursday claimed that NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar was considering joining the Congress and had toured Bhandara-Gondia to "please" senior Maharashtra Congress leader Nana Patole. Pawar denied the charge and accused Fuke of using his proximity to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to shield alleged corruption instead of addressing farmers' concerns.

The exchange quickly turned into a wider political attack, with Fuke claiming Pawar's ties with NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule had worsened, and Pawar responding with allegations linked to paddy procurement, bonus payments and irregularities in the employment guarantee scheme in parts of Gondia district.

Fuke said Pawar's relationship with Sule had deteriorated and that senior leaders in NCP (SP) were opposed to him.

"Actually, I feel that things have not worked out between him and Supriya tai in the NCP (SP). He is always at odds with Supriya tai, and because of that, senior NCP (SP) leaders are against Rohit Pawar. I can see that Rohit Pawar is thinking of joining the Congress," Fuke said.

"He therefore toured Bhandara-Gondia to please Nana Patole," he claimed.

Pawar hit back, asking Fuke to focus on farmers instead of making what he called baseless claims about him. He said Fuke had earlier stated that a paddy bonus could not be given after the government announced a loan waiver.

"I just want to say -- don't worry about me. The point is simple, Parinay Fuke, people know you are close to the Chief Minister. But what do you use that closeness for?" Pawar asked.

Pawar alleged that Fuke used his "proximity to the CM" to get action taken against Opposition workers and to protect BJP functionaries involved in illegal sand businesses.

The NCP (SP) leader, who represents the Karjat-Jamkhed assembly constituency in Ahilyanagar district, said Fuke had visited Chhattisgarh as part of an exercise to examine paddy procurement and bonus issues there.

"Over there, the government procures paddy at Rs 3,500. And in Maharashtra, paddy is purchased at Rs 2,300. Despite Devendra Fadnavis giving his word, the bonus for 2025-26 was not given," Pawar claimed.

He said farmers were entitled to both the promised loan waiver and the paddy bonus, and demanded that the government procure the crop at Rs 3,500 per quintal. "You will have to give a rate of Rs 3,500 during paddy procurement and provide the bonus as well," Pawar said.

Pawar also alleged irregularities in the implementation of the employment guarantee scheme in Gondia district.

He claimed that Rs 12 crore had been withdrawn on paper and alleged that the figure could rise to Rs 1,000 crore across 55 villages. He said an audit of four villages had uncovered alleged theft worth Rs 12 crore.

He further alleged that materials for the scheme were purchased from a shop belonging to a BJP chairman of a local body and said a hearing was expected in the coming days.

"Rather than talking about my personal matters, the government is yours, right? Speaking out against the corruption you and your people are doing is much more important, Parinay Fuke," Pawar said.