Former Mahim MLA has fueled Opposition charges that funds are selectively allocated to ruling party members.
A video of Sarvankar speaking at an event in his constituency (the Dadar-Mahim area) has gone viral on social media. In it, the leader claimed that the sitting MLA, Mahesh Sawant of the Shiv Sena (UBT) camp, was given only Rs 2 crore for development work. “But, even without being an MLA, I received Rs 20 crore for citizens’ work,” Sarvankar, who belongs to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, stated.
Since the formation of the Mahayuti government in the last few years, there has been talk of discrimination in the distribution of funds, charges that its leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his two deputies, Shinde and Ajit Pawar, have rejected outright.
However, Sarvankar’s statements lend weight to the allegations of Opposition members.
Sarvankar, referring to his defeat in the 2024 Assembly election, also stated that those who are engaged in the politics of development lose, while those who play caste politics win. “Despite losing the poll, with the support of Shinde saheb, I have been able to carry out development works in the area,” Sarvankar added.
As expected, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) reacted strongly. Former Mumbai mayor and UBT leader Kishori Pednekar said, “Not allotting sufficient development funds to certain MLAs is being unjust towards all citizens of their constituencies.”
Sawant defeated Sarvankar, who received 48897 votes, by a margin of 1316 votes. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray’s son Amit, who was contesting his maiden election, came third. Sarvankar had won the Assembly seat in 2014 and 2019.
Former UBT camp MLA Vaibhav Naik stated that those who joined the Shinde camp were given funds without a cap. “The free hand in fund allocation was nothing but an attempt to bulldoze the Opposition,” Naik alleged.
Sanjay Gaikwad, Buldhana MLA. PIC/X/@sanjaygaikwad34
Shinde Sena MLA sparks controversy
During a public gathering, Buldhana MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, who is no stranger to controversy, claimed that even for micro elections such as panchayat and zilla parishad polls, one needs at least Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore. Recently, Gaikwad was in the news for assaulting a MLA hostel canteen staff worker in Mumbai. Prior to that, the Shinde camp MLA had invited the ire of Fadnavis, allegedly for stating that the Maharashtra police was “the most inefficient”. The chief minister heads the home department.
