Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has alleged that irrigation project costs were deliberately inflated during the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance rule between 1995 and 1999 to generate party funds. Pawar claims a project file he examined showed an inflated cost of Rs 310-330 crore, with Rs 100 crore allegedly for party funds and Rs 10 crore for officials. He stated he rejected the inflated costs, revealing the project could be completed for Rs 220 crore. This accusation comes amid political sparring between Pawar's NCP faction and the BJP before upcoming civic polls.