Mumbai: The fierce battle for the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations between the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the BJP got more intense on the final day of campaigning with the Pune Police questioning the agency working on NCP’s campaign.
In the final hours of campaigning Tuesday, the Pune Police reached the office of DesignBoxed Innovations Private Limited, a political digital campaign management company, and questioned the employees.
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said in a statement that the police’s visit was followed by information about suspicious activity at a location within their jurisdiction. “A team of one officer and two policemen went to verify this information, but nothing adverse was found at the spot, after which the team left,” he said.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar wrote on X: “Officers of the Crime Branch were present today at the Pune office of Mr Naresh Arora, who works for the NCP and his organisation ‘DesignBoxed’, with the objective of gathering information. During the process conducted by the concerned officers, the necessary information was provided and full cooperation was extended. No objectionable matter or irregularity was found in this process.”
Pawar further said that the NCP is firmly behind Arora and is “articulating its position with patience, responsibility and clarity”.
He also urged people not to spread any confusion, rumours or “unnecessary narratives”.
“Our stance is that any conclusion should be drawn only on the basis of facts,” Pawar said.
DesignBoxed has been working with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP since the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections. Arora, the managing director of DesignBoxed, told media persons in Pune that the officers asked for some documents, details of senior employees and information about the work they do, including for the NCP.
“Our employees briefed them about the work that happens. We have been doing it across the country. It’s not the first state where we are doing this work. And we are not new in Maharashtra either. We have worked here for the assembly elections as well,” Arora said, adding that he has no details about the complaint.
He said no documents were seized, and maintained that campaign management organisations do not indulge in any illegal activities.
Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad are among the 29 municipal corporations going to polls on 15 January in Maharashtra. Votes will be counted on 16 January.
Despite being together in the ruling Mahayuti, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the BJP have been engaged in a bitter battle for the two municipal corporations. To defeat the BJP, its ally in the state, Ajit Pawar has even tied up with the rival Sharad Pawar-led NCP.
The election campaign for the two civic bodies has been marked by allegations and counter-allegations, and acrimonious comments from both sides.
Earlier on Tuesday, the last day of campaigning, while speaking in Pimpri Chinchwad, deputy CM Pawar alleged that there was pressure on the police to not grant permission for his rallies.
Campaigning in Pune on the final day, CM Devendra Fadnavis slammed the NCP’s candidate selection in the city, saying the local elections are not meant to elect “goons”.
He also said that Mahayuti allies had a pact of not making personal attacks wherever they contested against each other, but Ajit Pawar did not uphold the promise of a friendly fight in Pune.
This is an updated version of the report.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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