Chinchwad Elections Heat Up: Rohit Pawar and Rahul Kalate Attack Local Leaders Over Corruption

Chinchwad, 10th November 2024: The growing influence of the water tanker mafia and alleged contractor-driven politics in Chinchwad has sparked outrage among local citizens. Amid mounting concerns over corruption, Mahavikas Aghadi leader Rohit Pawar has voiced confidence that the people of Chinchwad will reject the existing “contractor pattern” in the upcoming elections.

Speaking at a youth rally in Walhekarwadi while campaigning for Mahavikas Aghadi candidate Rahul Kalate, Pawar launched a scathing attack on local leaders. He accused them of prioritizing personal gain, benefiting close relatives, and engaging in “dirty politics” to manipulate voters. Pawar expressed admiration for Kalate, highlighting his determination and leadership, stating, “Rahul has the courage and tenacity to put an end to this pattern of looting in Chinchwad.”

Pawar further accused local politicians of blocking development projects when Kalate was a corporator. Despite resistance, Kalate successfully completed 19 major DP roads worth thousands of crores, with government approval. Pawar expressed optimism that Chinchwad will undergo significant transformation under Kalate’s leadership if he is elected as an MLA.

When Kalate took the stage to speak, he was welcomed with cheers and trumpet blasts. He outlined his priorities, emphasizing the need to resolve long-standing issues faced by Chinchwad residents. Kalate promised that granting ownership rights to residents of unauthorized houses would be a key focus, along with creating a “fear-free city” and ensuring “corruption-free governance.” He noted that many of the area’s problems have persisted for 20 years, with previous leaders offering little more than empty assurances. “Voters are now more aware, and they want change,” Kalate remarked, expressing confidence that the tide is turning in Chinchwad’s political landscape.

In attendance at the rally were several prominent figures, including Sanjyog Waghere, the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray party’s Maval Lok Sabha organizer, NCP city president Tushar Kamthe, and AAP city president Meena Javale. Many youth leaders and Mahavikas Aghadi workers also participated.

Pawar didn’t hold back in his criticism of the ruling BJP, accusing the party of misleading voters and failing to address Chinchwad’s basic problems. “They’ve been in power for years, and they’ve done nothing to fulfill their promises. The same promises are repeated every election,” Pawar said, urging the youth to stay vigilant in the upcoming days.

NCP city president Tushar Kamthe added fuel to the fire by accusing Chinchwad’s two MLAs of dividing an ₹8,000 crore municipal corporation budget for personal gain. He claimed that, despite this massive budget, little to no development work has been completed in the constituency, while essential services like water supply remain in crisis due to the tanker mafia. Kamthe criticized the nepotism in local politics, calling out relatives of the candidates for securing lucrative contracts.

Kamthe also challenged the MLAs to reveal how much funding they had actually brought into the area and how it had been spent over the last two decades. “People are being misled into thinking the works done by corporators are from MLA funds. It’s time for transparency and accountability,” he added.

With allegations of corruption and mismanagement taking center stage, the upcoming Chinchwad elections are shaping up to be a pivotal moment for the constituency, as voters look to hold their leaders accountable.