The Congress on Saturday demanded a probe into alleged blackmail and coercion used to bring NCP leader Ajit Pawar into the NDA fold and said the BJP’s washing machine was nowhere more powerful than in Maharashtra.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted recent comments from Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to assert that the situation encompassed not only coercion and blackmail but also a breach of confidentiality and the Official Secrets Act.

“The BJP’s washing machine is an all-India phenomenon, but perhaps nowhere is it more powerful than in Maharashtra,” Ramesh said.

Ramesh recalled that prior to 2014, the BJP had accused Ajit Pawar, who was then the state’s irrigation and water resources minister, of corruption amounting to Rs 70,000 crore. According to him, Ajit Pawar has now acknowledged that the BJP used blackmail and coercion related to these allegations to persuade him to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

He noted, “The non-biological Prime Minister himself led the charge, famously labeling the NCP—now an ally at both the state and national levels—as a Naturally Corrupt Party.”

Furthermore, Ramesh indicated that after becoming Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis presented Ajit Pawar with a file suggesting an open inquiry into the alleged irrigation scam, implying a threat of compliance or consequences.

Ajit Pawar, along with several other MLAs, separated from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by his uncle Sharad Pawar and allied with the Shiv Sena-BJP government last year.

Ramesh stressed that the allegations constitute a serious issue involving coercion, blackmail, and breaches of confidentiality. He has called for a thorough investigation into these claims.

These comments from Ramesh followed Ajit Pawar’s assertions that he was backstabbed by former colleague and then Home Minister R.R. Patil, who initiated an inquiry against him concerning the alleged multi-crore irrigation scam.

Ajit Pawar mentioned that a file reflecting Patil’s inquiry order was shown to him by BJP leader Fadnavis after he assumed the Chief Minister’s role in 2014. He conveyed these points while campaigning for NCP candidate Sanjay Kaka Patil in Tasgaon, Sangli district.

Reacting apparently to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s comment on poll promises, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed the grand old party, saying they are badly exposed in front of the people.

In Karnataka, Congress is busier in intra-party politics and loot instead of even bothering to deliver on development, the Prime Minister said in a post on X. “Not only that, they are also going to roll back existing schemes,” he claimed.

The Congress Party is realising the hard way that making unreal promises is easy but implementing them properly is tough or impossible, Modi said. “Campaign after campaign they promise things to the people, which they also know they will never be able to deliver. Now, they stand badly exposed in front of the people!” the Prime Minister said.

Earlier, Kharge made the guarantees remark while pulling up Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over his statement that the state government would review the ‘Shakti’ guarantee.

“If we do not go as per the budget, we will go bankrupt and there will be no money to even develop roads. If this government fails, there will be nothing left to pass on to the next generation (of Congress leaders) except for the bad name and the latter has to bear the brunt for another 10 years,” he said while interacting with reporters.

However, Shivakumar on Friday said his statement on the ‘Shakti scheme’ was distorted and presented as if the Congress government in the state wanted to withdraw it.

“Check any state where the Congress has Governments today – Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana- the developmental trajectory and fiscal health is turning from bad to worse. Their so-called Guarantees lie unfulfilled, which is a terrible deceit upon the people of these states,” PM Modi said.

The victims of such politics are the poor, youngsters, farmers and women, who are not only denied the benefits of these promises but also see their existing schemes diluted, he added.

“The people of the country will have to be vigilant against the Congress sponsored culture of fake promises! We saw recently how the people of Haryana rejected their lies and preferred a Government that is stable, progress oriented and action driven. There is a growing realisation across India that a vote for Congress is a vote for non-governance, poor economics and unparalleled loot. The people of India want development and progress, not the same old,” said PM Modi.

In Himachal Pradesh, salaries of Government workers are not paid on time, PM Modi claimed. The Prime Minister said, in Telangana, farmers are waiting for the waiver they promised.

Previously, in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan Congress promised certain allowances which were never implemented for five years, he said. The Prime Minister said there are numerous such examples of how the Congress works.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday paid the last rites of BJP leader Devender Singh Rana. Abdullah was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Ministers Satish Sharma and Javed Ahmed Rana, and Party Treasurer Shammi Oberoi.

The 59-year-old Rana, BJP MLA from Nagrota and brother of Union Minister Jitendra Singh, passed away on Thursday at a private hospital in Haryana’s Faridabad.

Rana is survived by his wife, Gunjan Rana, their daughters Devyani and Ketki, and son Adhiraj Singh.

“The terrible news from late last night isn’t really sinking in. I know the last few years have been marked by our differences Devender but I prefer to focus on the fun times we shared together, the excellent work we did together & the memories. You have been taken from us all too soon & will be missed. May your soul rest in peace now DSR. My heart goes out to your family as I struggle to find the words to convey my condolences to them,” the Chief Minister posted on X.

Apart from Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat were among those who attended the last rites of Rana.

On his demise, the National Conference party said: “JKNC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President & Chief Minister Omar Abdullah are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Devender Rana, MLA Nagrota. They expressed their heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and supporters, acknowledging his dedicated service and contributions to the people of J&K. The JKNC leadership and party members stand in solidarity with his loved ones during this difficult time.”

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the demise of Rana and said he was a veteran leader who worked diligently towards Jammu and Kashmir’s progress.

“Shri Devender Singh Rana Ji’s untimely demise is shocking. He had just won the Assembly polls and had also played a noteworthy role in making the BJP stronger in J&K. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with his family and supporters. Om Shanti,” PM Modi said on X.

In a post on X, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Rana, who was always dedicated to the peace and development of Jammu and Kashmir and the interests of the people, made an invaluable contribution to the progress of the region. His demise is an irreparable loss for the BJP family, he added.

BJP chief JP Nadda also paid tribute to the party leader and said: “His dedication to public service and contributions towards the development of the people of Jammu & Kashmir will be remembered. His departure is an irreparable loss to the party”.

Rana’s elder brother and Union Minister Jitendra Singh posted on X, “Untimely demise of my brother Sh Devender Singh Rana is a deep personal loss, which is not only irreparable but painful and the void created will continue to haunt me for the rest of my life. I sincerely thank all those standing by me and the family in these testing times”.