Leaders of Rural India Flaunt Expensive SUVs

These leaders also shared a common attraction for fancy number plates. Almost all the vehicles carried unique numbers that came at a heavy price, even running into lakhs, as they were granted to the highest bidder during auctions.

Leaders hailing from Vidarbha and Marathwada, the two most underdeveloped regions in the state, said the classy cars belonged to leaders from Pune or Mumbai or from the prospering western belt in the state. Prakash Patil, a Panchayat Samiti member from Nandurbar was quoted saying "The economic condition in that region is good...they are all big leaders and have godfathers in the party, so they could afford the posh vehicles," as reported by NDTV.

There were a few who justified their penchant for costly cars as a sign of prosperity in their villages. "Villages are developing under the able leadership and policies of our leader Sharad Pawar. Don't look with negativity, its only good that we are progressing," said Ashok Patil, a Zilla Parishad member from Chalisagon.