Rifts in Mahayuti as BJP, NCP trade barbs over hit-and-run case, drug use

Former city BJP chief Jagdish Mulik, who is aspiring to contest the Assembly election from Vadgaonsheri, is indirectly taking on sitting NCP legislator Sunil Tingre.

Mahayuti Rifts, BJP, NCP, hit-and-run case, drug use, narcotics case, internal bickering,. NCP blame game, Chandrakant Patil, Indian express news

BJP Minister Chandrakant Patil (File Photo)

Recent incidents of alleged use of narcotics, along with hit-and-run cases in the city, seems to be bringing out internal bickering within the ruling alliance in the state government in open with leaders of the BJP and the NCP pinning the blame on each other.

On Monday, BJP minister Chandrakant Patil reportedly made a statement that the incidents of serious concern off late taking place in Pune did not happen when he was the Guardian minister of Pune district. However, he quickly tried to cover up his statement saying he could not recall any such incident during his tenure and that he couldn’t vouch that such incidents would not occur in future.

Patil’s statement was an indirect criticism of NCP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is the Guardian minister of Pune district. Patil had to give up the Guardian minister’s post after Pawar insisted on it after joining the NDA last year.

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NCP leader Amol Mitkari hit back at Patil by tweeting, “The narcotics issue in the city had got pushed during the tenure of Patil as Guardian minister. There was political cover to pubs, narcotics, dance bars during the tenure of Patil and they are coming out after Ajit Pawar took over as Guardian minister who does not support such illegal activities.”

Senior BJP leader Pravin Darekar took on Mitkari and said, “Amol Mitkari needs to control his mouth…He was warned by his state unit chief in the past for such behaviour. The NCP leader should not make statements that will lead to cracks within the ruling alliance.”

Meanwhile, former city BJP chief Jagdish Mulik, who is aspiring to contest the Assembly election from Vadgaonsheri, is indirectly taking on sitting NCP legislator Sunil Tingre.

Hoardings of Mulik have been put up in the assembly constituency saying he is a leader with a clean image and the one who is dedicated to work for the people.

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Incidentally, the Porsche hit-and-run case took place in Vadgonsheri constituency and NCP legislators had to face criticism for allegedly working to protect the accused.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More

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