Pune plan probe fallout of Pawar-Kalmadi rivalry

Bhujbal’s move had created panic in the Democratic Front (DF) camp and led to the speculation that the NCP had begun its attack against the Congress, which could end in derailing the government.

Sources in the DF camp said the episode began when some farmers from the 38 villages newly-included in the PMC limits approached Pawar and complained that they had received threats from certain people saying that reservations will be imposed on their plots if they failed to pay them the money. They also demanded money from developers offering reservations for residential zones at specific areas, the sources added.

The PMC’s regional plan for the development of these villages includes creating seperate zones and imposing reservations for public utility services. As the PMC is controlled by Kalmadi, sources feel that Pawar may have chosen this occasion to settle old political scores. Significantly, the probe was first announced by Pawar and subsequently confirmed by Bhujbal. “Pawar will have the last laugh if CID probe points a finger at any of Kalmadi’s aides,” the sources added. Once Pawar’s close confidante, Kalmadi became his bitter enemy during P.V. Narasimha Rao’s reign as prime minister, when the former began eyeing the top position in the Congress.

Subsequently, Kalmadi left the party when he was denied a ticket and contested the 1998 Lok Sabha elections from Pune as an Independent supported by the Sena-BJP alliance. Pawar, then the undisputed leader of the Maharashtra Congress, fielded the lesser known Vithal Tupe and ensured Kalmadi’s defeat by a huge margin. When Pawar quit Congress to float his ownparty, Kalmadi returned to the party fold. The last Lok Sabha and Assembly elections have witnessed full-fledged efforts by Kalmadi, then campaign chief of the Congress, to defeat Pawar’s candidates. In fact, the Congress’ campaign has been aimed at Pawar in particular.

Kalmadi’s relations with Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh have turned sour recently. Kalmadi reportedly criticised the Chief Minister at a recent function in Pune and shared a few sharp words with Ulhas Pawar, Chairman of the Development Board and Deshmukh’s close aide. According to sources, this could be the reason for Deshmukh’s silence on the issue.

Meanwhile, Bhujbal yesterday clarified that the CID probe had nothing to do with the state government’s decision to change the reservations of plots in Pune. He denied that he had ordered an inquiry into the Chief Minister’s decision in this regard. “Some farmers from the area in Pune met me during my recent visit to the city and complained of extortion by certain persons who were threatening to impose reservations on their land,” he said, adding: “As there was resentment among farmers and the state government was being maligned in the entire episode, I decided to conduct a CID inquiry and take stern action against the guilty.”

The Pune regional development plan controversy broke in September this year when allegations were made that several areas marked as “no-development zone” in the plan were converted into “residential zone” at the behest of the Chief Minister.

Bhujbal’s order assumed political importance as the changes in the reservation of plots was approved by Deshmukh himself in his capacity as the Urban Development Minister. A case regarding reservation of zones is now pending before the Bombay High Court.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders in Pune too demanded a CBI inquiry into the reservation issue. In a release issued here, Pune MP Pradip Rawat, MLC Prakash Javdekar and MLA Girish Bapat alleged that Bhujbal’s announcement was merely an eyewash and hence the Central agency should be invited to probe the allegations against the Chief Minister.