The BJP versus NCP in Pune deepened on Friday when corporators from the Sunetra Pawar-led party protested at the Pune Municipal Corporation against the party in majority, alleging that it is deliberately diverting their corporators’ development funds.
NCP has written a letter to the PMC commissioner requesting to take suo moto call of sending the proposal to the state government to cancel the decision taken by the standing committee.
NCP accused BJP of “misusing power” by diverting development funds from wards represented by its corporators Amol Balwadkar and Suhas Tingre after the two questioned the quality of development works in Kothrud. The NCP said seeking an inquiry into civic works was both the constitutional right and responsibility of elected representatives.
“These funds come from residents’ taxes. Political differences should not be used to deny citizens development,” said former MLA and NCP city president Sunil Tingre.
The remarks came a day after Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) house leader and BJP corporator Ganesh Bidkar wrote to deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar, raising allegations about the conduct of NCP corporators and their functioning in the civic body. The letter was submitted on August 20 and referred to the political and administrative functioning of NCP corporators in PMC.
The PMC standing committee meeting on Thursday reclassified ₹12 crore earmarked for development works in Tingre’s Ward 2-D and shifted the funds to Ward 3. Earlier, on Tuesday, the PMC general body, by a vote of 73-13, reconsidered a ₹12 crore development allocation for Balwadkar’s ward, days after he sought scrutiny of development works in Kothrud. Tingre had seconded Balwadkar’s demand for an inquiry into works linked to Chandrakant Patil.
{{/usCountry}}The PMC standing committee meeting on Thursday reclassified ₹12 crore earmarked for development works in Tingre’s Ward 2-D and shifted the funds to Ward 3. Earlier, on Tuesday, the PMC general body, by a vote of 73-13, reconsidered a ₹12 crore development allocation for Balwadkar’s ward, days after he sought scrutiny of development works in Kothrud. Tingre had seconded Balwadkar’s demand for an inquiry into works linked to Chandrakant Patil.
{{/usCountry}}Bidkar alleged that NCP corporators had repeatedly criticised BJP leaders and created hurdles in the functioning of the civic body. He sought Pawar’s intervention and said the ruling BJP was committed to ensuring development works for residents.
Tingre said questioning the quality of development works and seeking an inquiry was part of the responsibility of an elected representative. He alleged that development funds were being used as a political tool.
The NCP leader said the party would continue to raise issues concerning civic works.