Pune, Nov. 24 -- Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday downplayed deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's controversial statement implying that development funds would flow only if voters backed his candidates. Fadnavis said remarks of this kind are common during poll campaigns and should not be read as policy. Speaking in Nagpur, Fadnavis said, "Such comments are made in every election. They shouldn't be taken literally. Even I would say, 'If you vote for us, we will bring more funds' when I am out campaigning," he said. His clarification came after Ajit Pawar, while campaigning for the Malegaon Nagar Parishad polls in Baramati tehsil, told voters that "the vote is in your hands and the funds are in mine," sparking criticism from the opposition. Pawar told voters that if all 18 candidates from his panel-including those from NCP and its Mahayuti allies-were elected, he would fulfil every promise. If not, he suggested, he would "cross mark" them in return. Pawar later insisted that his speech was "not a threat". "The opposition can say what it wants. Our aim is to use state funds to resolve local issues and meet basic needs," he said. NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule said, "In a healthy democracy, the Election Commission has a moral responsibility to keep a check on such comments," and called for stronger oversight during elections....