Political Nexus Shifts Major Project from Maharashtra to Gujarat

Ex-Union minister Sharad Pawar alleges that the Tata-Airbus assembly line was originally planned for Maharashtra but was moved to Gujarat due to PM Narendra Modi's intervention. He claims job opportunities were lost for Maharashtra. This shift aligns with India's self-reliance push as the project inaugurations coincide with Airbus's partnership with TASL for 40 units.

Former Union minister Sharad Pawar, on Tuesday, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of relocating the Final Assembly Line (FAL) of Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus from Maharashtra to Gujarat. Addressing an election rally, Pawar claimed that the original plan was to set up the facility in Nagpur, in consultation with Ratan Tata.

Pawar stated that during the Manmohan Singh government, a 500-acre plot was identified for the project in Nagpur, aimed at creating thousands of jobs. However, he alleged that this changed after Modi's intervention, resulting in the factory being established in Gujarat instead.

The FAL inauguration at Vadodara marks a pivotal moment for India’s self-reliance initiative. The project, attended by Modi and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, is part of a broader agreement with Airbus to manufacture and assemble 40 aircraft in India, boosting the Indian Air Force's capabilities.

(With inputs from agencies.)