Abhishek Barne set to become PCMC standing committee chairman

Following orders from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis — prompted by pressure from local MLAs — Barne’s name was finalised instead, BJP sources said.

“For the standing committee chairperson post, the names of Shatrughan Kate, Sandeep Kaspate, and Abhishek Barne were in contention. In the debate between Kate and Kaspate, the tide turned in favor of Kaspate. Seven members of the core committee finalised Kaspate’s name and sent the recommendation to the state executive. But it was overruled and name suggested by two MLAs was approved,” a BJP leader said.

MLA Shankar Jagtap had recommended the name of Barne but he was apparently annoyed after his choice was initially rejected. “The matter once again reached the doorstep of Fadnavis. The MLAs sent a message to Fadnavis stating that if the names suggested by them were not given importance, it would send a wrong signal to the grassroots workers,” party sources said.