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The ongoing political battle in India has taken a new turn with the Congress party launching a scathing attack on the Adani Group, accusing them of securing a power contract in Maharashtra through questionable means. This move has further fueled the existing tensions between the Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is seen as being close to the Adani conglomerate. The Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh, has labeled the contract as a 'Modani enterprise,' a term that suggests Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alleged favoritism towards the Adani Group. He has also declared that 'shocking details' of the deal will surface soon, hinting at potential irregularities in the bidding process.
The Adani Group, however, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and labeled the allegations as 'preposterous, irrational, and absurd.' The group claims that they secured the contract through a transparent and competitive bidding process, highlighting the competitive nature of the bids submitted by various companies like JSW Energy and Torrent Power. The contract involves the supply of a mix of renewable and thermal power to Maharashtra's state electricity distributor at a rate of ₹4.08 per unit, a price that is lower than the current procurement cost of electricity in the state. This factor has been cited by the Adani Group as evidence of their competitive edge and efficiency.
The Congress party, however, remains unconvinced and has called for a thorough investigation into the deal. They believe that the contract was awarded just before the Maharashtra assembly elections, which are scheduled later this year, in a bid to gain political advantage. This claim, if proven, would further strengthen the Congress's allegations of a politically motivated deal. The Congress's aggressive stance suggests their intention to use this issue as a platform to attack the BJP government and their alleged ties to the Adani Group during the upcoming elections. This incident highlights the increasingly complex and intertwined nature of business and politics in India, with implications for both the political landscape and the economic climate.