Mumbai (03.12.2022): Ajay Ashar, who was accused of corruption charges in the urban development department by BJP Mumbai unit president Ashish Shelar during the MVA regime, has been appointed as Vice-Chairman of Maharashtra Institution for Transformation or MITRA. The Maharashtra Think Tank was formed recently on the lines of NITI Aayog.

Ashar is a developer from Thane and a close associate of CM Eknath Shinde. Congress' Sachin Sawant and Mumbai unit president Nana Patole questioned deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on his appointment, who was leader of opposition at that time raising similar objections. The embarrassed BJP deflected the matter by saying that the decision to appoint Ashar was unfortunate but he is indispensable to Shinde.

Mihir Kotecha (BJP Mulund MLA) had taken a presser saying Ajay Ashar took all the decisions in the urban development department. Ashar is above officials in the urban development department? CM Shinde is chairman of MITRA and Fadnavis is co-chairman. MITRA was approved by the state cabinet in October.

However, Ashar strongly denied the charge that he had any say in the urban development department's decisions. Ashar reportedly said that a $5 trillion economy for India cannot be achieved without a major role being played by Maharashtra. The state must achieve the $2.5 trillion goal for India to achieve its $5 trillion goal.