Pune: Ajit Pawar Explodes at Media: “Are You Idiots? I’m the Deputy CM and Guardian Minister!”
Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Pune, 17th February 2025: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s recent meeting with Beed MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar of the Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) in Pune has ignited controversy and speculation. When questioned about the meeting by media, Pawar responded angrily, “Are you idiots? I’m the deputy chief minister of the state and guardian minister of the district!”
The meeting has raised eyebrows due to ongoing political tensions in the region. Ashti MLA Suresh Dhas of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and MLA Kshirsagar have repeatedly raised issues concerning the kidnapping and murder of Massajog Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. In this case, the names of Ajit Pawar-led NCP leaders Walmik Karad and Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde have surfaced, with the Maharashtra State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arresting Karad.
Responding to media inquiries, Pawar defended the meeting, stating, “Are you idiots? I’m the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the Guardian Minister of that district (Beed). As a result, even if MLA Kshirsagar is from the opposition, he can meet me.” He explained that the meeting focused on addressing the water crisis in Kshirsagar’s constituency, where residents have been without drinking water for 21 days.
Pawar elaborated that they discussed water issues during their meeting in Junnar, and he promptly issued instructions to the relevant authorities. He emphasized that such meetings are not unusual, recalling that even when he was in opposition, they would meet with then-Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil to resolve issues.
MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar confirmed that the meeting centred on Beed’s water problem, which affects over 3 lakh city residents. He mentioned that while water policies have been implemented, they haven’t started due to electricity bill arrears. Kshirsagar stated that he informed Pawar about this issue, and the Deputy Chief Minister promised a solution.
