India, Jan. 7 -- Pune

Campaigning for the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporation elections sharpened on Tuesday after Maharashtra revenue minister and senior BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule publicly cautioned deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar against reopening past controversies, exposing strains within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Speaking to reporters, Bawankule referred to the Rs.70,000-crore irrigation scam allegedly linked to Pawar, stressing that the matter is sub judice and pending before the courts. He said any conclusions would depend solely on the judicial outcome and urged Pawar to avoid referencing sensitive legal issues during civic election campaigning.

Bawankule also objected to Pawar's recent criticism of t...