Ajit Pawar justifies his dealing with babus
MUMBAI: Assuring full cooperation to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in providing a result- oriented government in Maharashtra, his deputy and NCP leader Ajit Pawar today justified his "stern" dealing with the state bureaucracy.
"Ever since I became Deputy Chief Minister, newspapers are full of stories about Ajit Pawar's dadagiri (dominance).
What is wrong if I am stern with bureaucrats who do not heed to Ministers' directives to speed up works related to the welfare of the common man. I will not change my style of functioning and ensure that the bureaucrats fall in line," he said while addressing NCP workers here.
Pawar, appointed Deputy Chief Minister around two weeks ago, asked party workers to ensure that NCP's name and image were not maligned due to their activities.
Stressing the need for strengthening the party at the grassroots, Pawar said all NCP ministers will have to tour Vidarbha, Marathwada and North Maharashtra regions every month to take stock of development activities.
"We visit Western Maharashtra and Konkan (neighbouring Mumbai) regularly. But, there should not be any feeling of bias among other regions. If we interact with workers in all regions of the state, we will strengthen our party and prepare it for the local bodies elections in 2012 and Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in 2014," he added.