Ajit Pawar distances himself from loan waiver poll promise: 'Did I give the assurance?'

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Friday distanced himself from pre-election assurances of farm loan waiver while responding to Congress party’s criticism that the Mahayuti government had failed to deliver on key poll promises.

"Did I give the assurance of loan waiver ahead of the elections?" Pawar shot back when questioned by reporters about the Congress’s remarks. When pressed further that the Mahayuti alliance had made the promise, Pawar repeated, "Did I give the assurance? Did I?" before walking away without elaborating.

The Mahayuti coalition - comprising of BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP - won a decisive mandate in the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, securing 230 out of 288 seats.

Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat had accused the ruling alliance of ignoring the plight of farmers. "The government made many promises before the election, but after coming to power, it has done nothing. Farmers feel betrayed," Thorat said. He criticised the government for allocating large sums to other sectors while failing to provide any relief through a loan waiver.

Farmer leader Raju Shetti had also expressed dissatisfaction, accusing the government of neglecting farmers' concerns, particularly over low prices for crops like soybean and cotton.

In March, while addressing an event in his hometown Baramati, Ajit Pawar had said the state's financial condition did not permit a loan waiver, and advised farmers to pay their loan instalments on time instead of expecting government relief. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis later backed Pawar’s stance, saying he had only articulated the government’s position.

(With PTI inputs)