Maval seat is a messed-up issue for NCP, admits Ajit Pawar

Pune: Admitting that the issue of deciding a candidate for Maval Lok Sabha constituency was messed up for a number of reasons, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Friday revealed that even Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar had questioned him in this regard. dna had published on March 5 that the party was finding it difficult to field a candidate in Maval as MLA Laxman Jagtap has declined the offer citing issues of unauthorised constructions and transfer of the then PCMC commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi. 
The Shiv Sena has given candidature to Shrirang Barane and denied ticket to sitting MP Gajanan Babar.
Ajit Pawar, while addressing a convention of Maval NCP office-bearers and party workers at Thergaon, said that Pawar Saheb gave him all the freedom to choose party workers for the post of mayors and standing committee chairman and never intervened. 
“This time, there were some issues and Pawar Saheb questioned me about this. I have assured him that the candidate contesting on NCP symbol will win this seat.”
Pointing out that he was receiving many phone calls, SMS and letters about confusion over Maval seat, Pawar said, “I have made this progress because of NCP and we all should remember that who so ever is the arty candidate, we will have to work for him.”
The deputy chief minister admitted that the issue of unauthorised constructions was still not sorted out completely. 
He said that he did whatever was possible and the report of the committee appointed on this issue has also been submitted to the government. 
He clarified that party workers should try to remove the misconception and impression that NCP did not resolve this issue for obvious reasons. 
Firing, toll issues
Criticising chief minister Prithviraj Chavan without naming him, Pawar said, “The BJP tried to capitalise by politicising the Maval firing issue but did not succeed. I was defamed by the BJP and a judicial inquiry was ordered.” 
“I requested the chief minister to make the report of this inquiry public so that people will know the truth. I will never stoop down to such a level of capitalising on the sensitive issue of firing,” he said.
Without naming MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Pawar accused him of politicising the toll issue. He said that the people of Baramati are giving toll twice while entering and leaving the town. 
“In Pune, there was no toll but it has been collected through tax on petrol. The toll imposed by the Central Government cannot be cancelled but the big toll at the state-level would be reviewed by the government.”