Ajit Pawar targets Prithviraj Chavan over 'tardy' pace of clearing files

MUMBAI: NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who resigned as Maharashtra deputy chief minister after allegations of irregularities in irrigation projects, today launched a veiled attack on chief minister Prithviraj Chavan over "tardy pace" of clearing files.

"Some people keep files pending. For what reasons, I don't know. May be they want to study those files. I don't want to comment on that," Pawar said, without naming Chavan.

He was speaking to reporters at Satara, Chavan's home district in western Maharashtra.

"I give priority to getting work done than protecting my image," Pawar said, in an apparent reference to the "Mr Clean" image of Chavan.

Asked if his remarks were aimed at Chavan, Pawar said, "I have not named anyone.I have said that I don't keep work pending and my pace is not tardy."

On his comments yesterday at a public rally in Ahmednagar district that charges against him were aimed at diverting public attention from the Coalgate scam, Pawar said, "It was not my intention to target Congress."

"It is my personal feeling that there was an attempt to divert attention (from the coal scam). Congress and NCP are alliance partners for last several years," Pawar said.

"I resigned due to charges levelled by the Opposition. It is the Opposition parties' move to engineer squabbles among us," he said.