Politics · India Bureau
Congress slams Fadnavis over APTEL bias allegations, cites Adani favour
Congress leaders have accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of hypocrisy for raising concerns about bias at the electricity appellate tribunal, pointing to numerous cases decided in favour of the Adani group. The party claims the state government itself has consistently favoured the conglomerate.
LSN India ·
The Congress party on Wednesday dismissed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' reported complaints to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding alleged bias at the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) as contradictory and self-serving.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Fadnavis has apparently flagged concerns that APTEL is heavily favouring private power companies, yet the chief minister has remained silent on tribunal decisions benefiting larger corporate players. "The major recipient of APTEL's favours in Maharashtra in 2025 and 2026 has been the Adani group, with at least four cases decided in its favour," Ramesh stated.
Ramesh accused the Maharashtra government itself of bending rules to benefit what Congress refers to as the "Modani conglomerate"—a term the party uses to suggest collusion between the Adani group and the Modi administration. The Congress leader contended that Fadnavis' selective criticism of tribunal bias lacks credibility given the state's own track record of supporting the conglomerate's interests.
The comments reflect ongoing tensions between the Congress and the ruling BJP-led government over allegations of preferential treatment towards large corporate groups in infrastructure and energy sectors.