Cong-PVA may patch up

Though, the BJP-Sena camp preferred to maintain a stoic silence over the shift in the electoral stance by the PVA, RPI8217;s leader of opposition Avinash Salve was more vocal when he criticised the Congress for aligning with the communal Sena to defeat his party candidate, Ashok Kamble, in the keenly fought election for Yerwada divisional ward office.

The Congress apparently reaped the maximum benefit bagging six posts followed by PVA with four posts. The successful Congress candidates include Alka Patil Yerwada, Arvind Shinde Pune Railway Station, Dilip Tupe Hadapsar, Padmaja Gole Ghole Road and Ankush Kakade Tilak Road.

The winning candidates of the PVA were Anjani Nimhan Aundh, Vidya Bhokre Kasba Peth, Meenakshi Kadgi Bhavani Peth and Anant Bhoj Karve Road. It may be mentioned here that Bhoj, a Patit Pawan Sanghatana activists, has aligned with the PVA.

The BJP nominees who emerged victorious were, Uday Joshi Vishrambaug Wada and Shankar Patil Bibwewadi, while Arun Zagade Sahakarnagar was the lone Sena man to make it to the post.

Meanwhile, Sena8217;s standing committee chairman Ramesh Bodke had his way with the administrative proposal to empower the divisional ward committee chairpersons with greater executive and financial powers, by ensuring that no decision was arrived at on the proposal during the special panel meeting convened by him this afternoon.

Bodke causes a stir
Shiv Sena8217;s Ramesh Bodke, recently elected to the post of standing committee chairman, on Monday caused a minor stir at the Pune Municipal Corporation PMC corridors by removing the portrait of Congress leader Sharad Pawar from his office.

Interestingly, the loudest protest came from an unexpected corner. Pune Vikas Aghadi PVA members outdid their brethren from the Congress in condemning Bodke8217;s act.

This was in spite of Bodke displaying due respect for PVA chief Suresh Kalmadi, whose portrait he retained albeit alongside another impressive one of Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

8220;Why remove portraits of national leaders. Let them be. You can go onadding,8221; the members sought to suggest Bodke after a hurriedly convened meeting at PVA leader Chandrakant Chhajed.