Ideology Taking a Backseat as Money, Muscle Drive Politics: Ajit Pawar Ahead of Maharashtra Civic Polls

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has voiced concern over what he described as the steady decline of ideological commitment in Indian politics, alleging that parties are increasingly relying on money, muscle power and intimidation to expand their ranks.

Speaking ahead of the Maharashtra civic elections, the senior leader said political defections have become widespread, with leaders switching sides not on principles but on perceived electoral advantage.

According to Pawar, many political parties have moved away from their founding ideologies, creating an environment where power and influence outweigh values. He alleged that some leaders are being lured with inducements, while others are pressured by the threat of pending investigations, with assurances that probe agencies would be “managed” once they change allegiance.

He further claimed that the open use of money and muscle power has become common practice in electoral politics. In some cases, he said, caste-based narratives are being used as a tool to mobilise votes when financial or organisational strength alone is not enough.

Highlighting a shift in political strategy, Pawar said candidates are increasingly being judged by their perceived popularity rather than their performance or public service record. He pointed to the growing use of internal surveys to identify “winnable” candidates, even if they belong to rival parties, followed by attempts to engineer defections.

Referring to local governance in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pawar criticised the existing civic leadership, alleging a lack of long-term vision despite substantial spending over the past several years. He claimed this had pushed key municipal bodies into administrative and financial stress. The remarks come as Maharashtra prepares for elections to multiple municipal corporations, including Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, with voting scheduled in mid-January and results expected the following day. Pawar’s party, the Nationalist Congress Party, is currently part of the BJP-led ruling alliance in the State.