India, Jan. 12 -- Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday hit back at chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over remarks targeting him during the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) election campaign, saying he was only pointing out governance failures, not indulging in personal attacks.

Speaking at a press briefing in Pimpri after releasing the joint manifesto of the NCP and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), Pawar said his criticism had intensified because civic elections were announced after a gap of nearly nine years. "I am not criticising the BJP. I am only highlighting mistakes in the PCMC. Pointing out mistakes is not criticism," he said.

A day earlier, Fadnavis, without naming Pawar, had remarked at a rally that som...