Ajit Pawar Panel Accused Of Malpractice Ahead Of Malegaon Sugar Mill Polls

Allegations of electoral malpractice have surfaced against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar바카라�s panel ahead of the high-stakes election for the Malegaon Cooperative Sugar Mill in Pune district, intensifying the political battle within the Pawar family.

The election, scheduled for June 22, has turned into a direct contest between Ajit Pawar, leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and his uncle Sharad Pawar, who heads the rival NCP (Sharad Pawar) faction. Both camps are backing different panels in the contest for control of the influential sugar mill located in Baramati.

Tensions escalated late Wednesday night after rival candidates from the Sahakar Bachav and Baliraja Sahakar Bachav panels accused Ajit Pawar바카라�s faction of misconduct. The controversy erupted when the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank바카라�chaired by Ajit Pawar바카라�was found operating well past normal hours, allegedly until midnight.

Ranjan Tawre, leader of the Sahakar Bachav panel, filed an official complaint with the election officer, claiming that a voter list was discovered inside the bank premises and that Ajit Pawar바카라�s personal assistant was seen leaving the building.

바카라�Before we arrived, Ajit Pawar바카라�s PA and others were inside. Our people saw them leaving in a car. Why was the bank open so late? Why was his PA there? We suspect voter lists were being tampered with and cash packets were being prepared to buy votes,바카라� Tawre alleged. He has called for the police to register an FIR and launch an investigation.

NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar, also weighed in, demanding a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the incident. She described the situation as a serious breach of electoral conduct.

Ajit Pawar is among 90 candidates contesting for 21 seats on the board of directors of the sugar mill, which holds significant economic and political influence in the region. His Nilkantheshwar panel currently controls the mill, and this marks his first sugar cooperative election bid in over four decades.

Sharad Pawar바카라�s faction has fielded candidates under the Baliraja Sahakar Bachav panel, turning the election into a triangular contest with both political weight and family rivalry at stake.

The election results are set to be announced on June 24. Meanwhile, the controversy has heightened scrutiny on the electoral process, with calls growing louder for transparency and accountability.

- With inputs from PTI.