After Munde’s remark against Pawars, NCP and BJP slug it out

Pune, July 9 The war of words between the leaders of the NCP and the BJP on Wednesday had its echo in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) corridors, as the city units of both parties -- which are jointly ruling the PMC -- took on each other over comments made on their leaders while reminding of the favour to go along with each other in the civic body.

“Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde have been making baseless allegations against NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar to malign their image. Munde has the habit of making baseless allegations and is doing the same citing assembly and Lok Sabha polls,” said city NCP president Jaideo Gaikwad in a press statement.

He said, “The BJP is in alliance with the NCP in PMC. The BJP has never been able to occupy various posts in the civic body on its own and could get them now only due to the favour shown by the NCP.”

Gaikwad said the BJP leader has forgotten the favour done by the NCP and was making baseless allegations against the NCP leaders.

“The city unit of NCP condemns the comments made by Munde against the NCP leaders and would not tolerate it henceforth. The BJP leader would not be allowed to enter the city if he continues with the same,” he added.

Hitting back at NCP, BJP corporator Ujjwal Keskar said the NCP should not forget that they are in power only due to the support of BJP.

The NCP leaders making allegations against the BJP are disgruntled faction of the party who have been criticising the alliance, he added.

City BJP vice-president Sandeep Khardekar said the party has already made it clear that the alliance with the NCP in PMC was temporary and a political compulsion to keep the Congress away from power.

The NCP leaders should not unnecessarily criticise the BJP leaders as that won't be tolerated, he said.