This marks the beginning of the end for the ‘Pune Pattern’, where the NCP had joined hands with the Shiv Sena and the BJP in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). On Tuesday, the NCP, for the first time in the last two years, joined hands with the Congress to deprive standing committee chairman Shyam Deshpande, the Shiv Sena leader in the civic body, of the task of preparing the 2009-10 budget. The powers have now been vested with NCP’s Anil Bhosale.

Sena corporators were left fuming and Deshpande launched a verbal attack on Bhosale, saying the latter was an opportunist and had always been opposing the Shiv Sena and BJP. He said he was not sure whether the ‘Pune Pattern’ existed any longer.

“Despite district guardian minister Ajit Pawar assuring that the ruling Pune Pattern would complete its five-year term, Bhosale has gone against the wishes of his senior. Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi has also found new love for NCP. Now, Pawar should come and clarify,” Deshpande said.

Bhosale, other than saying the development had increased his responsibility, chose not to comment on the matter.

It may be recalled that Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, during his first visit to the city after taking over the reins of the cabinet, had on January 15 urged the NCP to call off the ‘unholy alliance’ with the Sena-BJP in the civic body.

The day’s drama started during a special meeting of the standing committee held for discussing the forthcoming budget. Out of the blue, the Congress and NCP came together to snatch away Deshpande’s power to prepare the annual budget. During the meeting, Congress corporator Aba Bagul suddenly tabled a proposal to give the authority of presenting the budget to Bhosale. The Sena and BJP tried to resist, but they were voted out with Congress-NCP votes (10), as compared to Sena-BJP votes (2). As per the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations (BPMC) Act, the civic budget has to be presented before February 20.

Deshpande opposed the move, saying, “After the 2007 civic elections, NCP and Shiv Sena decided to share power and formed the ‘Pune Pattern’ for the welfare of the city. The Shiv Sena supported the NCP throughout the year. From our side, we did not let any of our differences come out in the open. However, Bhosale always posed problems before other standing committee members. He is in a hurry to gain power.”

Asked about this, Bhosale said, “The standing committee members must have considered me capable of giving justice to the budget. Why should I shy away from the responsibility if it comes to me without my requesting it?”

He said it would not result in any problems to the ‘Pune Pattern’. “As to who should present the budget, we would take a decision by taking everybody into confidence,” he said.