Kalmadi faces MNS,BJP heat on home turf

With the CWG taint having already put him on the backfoot,MP Suresh Kalmadis sudden attempt to get back into the citys political milieu caused unprecedented turmoil

With the CWG taint having already put him on the backfoot,MP Suresh Kalmadis sudden attempt to get back into the citys political milieu caused unprecedented turmoil in the civic body. His visit to the Pune Municipal headquarters on Monday,ostensibly to discuss development works and regain lost ground,was marred by ugly scenes as MNS and BJP blocked his entry while his supporters,led by Congress leaders,put up stiff resistance to keep the protesters at bay.

For nearly four hours,the civic headquarters witnessed heavy sloganeering as Kalmadi supporters clashed with his detractors. It started at 1 pm,half-an-hour before Kalmadis scheduled visit to inaugurate the cabin of chairperson of civic sports committee,when MNS members led by PMC leader of opposition Vasant More staged a morcha outside the PMC headquarters. At present,Congress corporator Avinash Bagwe heads the committee.

The MNS members were soon joined by those from Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and both decided to prevent Kalmadi from entering the PMC building.

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Meanwhile,Kalmadi supporters got a whiff of the development. Led by Congress corporators,they gathered at another gate of civic building. MNS and BJP members then barged into the civic headquarters and started shouting anti-Kalmadi slogans. BJP members blocked the main entrance of the building while MNS took on Kalmadi supporters. Some MNS members also blocked another entrance.

The city police had to intervene to bring the situation under control. The MNS members were told to step away from the entrances while Congress legislator Ramesh Bagwe appealed to them not to block the road. As Kalmadi approached the building,the protesters tried to stop the car and the police had to use force make way for Kalmadi. After a delay of an hour,Kalmadi,flanked by policemen and Congress members,finally entered the PMC premises from the exit gate. After inauguration of the cabin,Kalmadi and Congress corporators met Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Pathak to discuss development works.

The Shiv Sena did not participate in the protest. Some NCP leaders left the building before Kalmadi arrived.

On the welcome given to him by protesters,Kalmadi said,I am still the city MP… It is unfortunate to be given such treatment,but its fine. They only wasted their time.

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MNS was quick to react. He has brought shame to the city and we condemn his visit to civic headquarters, said city MNS chief Bala Shedge.

Will contest next LS polls

Refusing to comment on his suspension from the Congress,Pune MP Suresh Kalmadi on Monday said he would contest the next general elections. I would be contesting the next Lok Sabha polls at any cost, Kalmadi said,adding that he continued to have the support of Congress workers. He also said his active participation in civic polls would have ensured a different outcome. I stayed away from the civic polls for some reasons,but the results would have been different if I was actively involved, Kalmadi said in a press conference here on Monday.

The RJD’s key face and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav, party supremo Lalu Yadav’s son, will again contest from his stronghold Raghopur.

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