At a time when several parts in the state are experiencing a drought-like situation and the state government announced Rs 10 crore relief package to tackle the situation in Pune division, it has been learnt that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) splurged lakhs on lavish buffets at the two-day state meet in the city.

Sources from the party said the total expenditure on food, excluding breakfast and special food for people fasting, was about Rs 40 lakh.u00a0The lavish arrangement was in stark contrast to NCP leader Ajit Pawar’s speech, wherein he had appealed to supporters to cut down on expenses while organising events on the party’s behalf. But it appears that NCP’s city unit failed to pay heed to Pawar’s words about observing austerity while organising events on the party’s behalf.