Pune: The delay in appointing Pune’s Guardian Minister has led to apparent internal competition within the BJP over the city’s leadership. Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol and State Minister Madhuri Misal have both recently held separate review meetings in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) regarding city issues. Both meetings reportedly focused on similar topics, fueling speculation about internal differences within the party.

Eight days ago, Murlidhar Mohol conducted a review meeting to discuss city projects such as equitable water supply, riverfront beautification, the JICA project, Shivane-Kharadi road development, the HCMTR project, and missing link initiatives. This meeting was attended by State Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, MLAs Hemant Rasane, Sunil Chavan, and Bhimrao Tapkir, along with municipal officers and BJP leaders.

However, Madhuri Misal was absent from the meeting. On Friday, she held an independent review meeting at the PMC without other BJP leaders. Misal’s meeting primarily focused on the 24x7 water supply scheme, property tax issues, and the merger of certain cantonment areas into the municipal corporation.

When asked about the separate meetings, Misal clarified that she could not attend Mohol’s meeting due to last-minute commitments. She highlighted that her review was part of the ongoing 100-day plan and aimed at resolving challenges in pending development projects. Misal further noted that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has instructed the preparation of location-specific proposals for Biodiversity Parks (BDP), hilltops, and hill slopes to develop a unified state policy.

Misal also issued strict directives to municipal officials, emphasizing that roads dug for construction must be asphalted within 24 hours. She warned of action against contractors and municipal engineers for any delay.