Pune Civic Polls Heighten BJP-NCP Tensions Amid Police Inquiry and Cost Inflation Allegations

Ahead of the January 15 civic polls in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, tensions have escalated between Maharashtra's ruling allies, the BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction. The Pune Crime Branch visited the office of DesignBoxed, a political consultancy linked to NCP strategist Naresh Arora, seeking information but found no irregularities. Ajit Pawar dismissed rumors, affirming full cooperation and support for Arora. Concurrently, Pawar accused the 1995-1999 Shiv Sena-BJP government of inflating irrigation project costs by Rs 110 crore to generate party funds, intensifying political rivalry during the election campaign.