Mumbai: Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and Pune District Guardian Minister, drew criticism during a campaign event in Malegaon, near Baramati, after telling voters that although they exercise their right to vote, the power to allocate development funds lies with him.

Pawar made the remarks while campaigning for Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidates contesting the Malegaon Nagar Panchayat elections ahead of the first phase of the Maharashtra Local Body Elections scheduled for 2 December, with counting on 3 December.

Addressing residents of Malegaon, Pawar said that giving votes was the people’s responsibility, but the distribution of government funds was his. He urged voters to elect all 18 NCP candidates in the local body polls, adding that he was prepared to p

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