Vote for sister Supriya Sule or I cut off water supply: Did Ajit Pawar threaten villagers?
Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar continues to be plagued by the foot-in-mouth disease.
Almost a year after his disgusting remarks on "urinating to fill dams" during a crippling draught in Maharashtra, it is alleged Ajit Pawar threatened villagers that he would cut off water supply if they didn't vote for his cousin and sitting NCP MP Supriya Sule.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar's nephew allegedly said this in the drought-prone Masalvadi village in Baramati on Wednesday evening, hours before 19 constituencies of the state were due to vote.
A complaint for poll code violation has been filed against him with the election Commission on Thursday, the Mumbai Mirror reported.
Ajit Pawar reportedly told villagers: "My sister will not lose the elections if one village votes against her as we have the entire Baramati town backing us. I get to know from the machines who voted for which party. If I come to know that Masalvadi has voted against the party, then you will never get water, bear that in mind."
Baramati has been the stronghold of the NCP, or more accurately its chief Sharad Pawar for nearly 47 years now. The seat is being contested by Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule this time.
The Mumbai Mirror reported an army jawan in the gathering, Sandip Thombre, asked Ajit Pawar that evening about a promise made in 2006 to regularise water supply to the village. Pawar allegedly threatened to put him behind bars.
Pawar's comments were recorded, apparently on a cellphone, and the footage has been submitted to the Election Commission, the Mirror reports.
Last year when Marathwada was reeling under severe drought, Pawar had mocked a Solapur farmer who was fasting at Azad Maidan demanding adequate water supply for his village. Pawar had said at a public meeting near Pune on April 7: "He has been fasting for the last 55 days. If there is no water in the dam, how can I release it. Should we urinate into it? If there is no water to drink, even urination is not possible."
