Pune: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) adjourned a vital meeting of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) General Body (GB) immediately after it started on Thursday.

The meeting was called to discuss approval for two important issues - Pune bicycle sharing plan, and bylaws for solid waste management. Opposition parties alleged that the meeting was adjourned as BJP was scared of agitation by the opposition.

The case of alleged threatening of a civic official by the husband of a BJP corporator came to the fore on Wednesday. Also, there was divide expected among the ruling party members over the purchase of water meters for 24X7 water supply scheme. Hence, it was expected that the ruling party would face trouble from inside and outside.

Sensing this, Leader of the House Shrinath Bhimale proposed adjournment motion immediately after opening. Mayor Mukta Tilak was not aware of the plan. Bhimale informed her and then, she announced that the House was being adjourned.

Bhimale informed the House that the decision was taken after speaking to all party leaders. But, Leader of Opposition Chetan Tupe said that he did not give consent to the adjournment.

NCP’s Bhaiyya Jadhav and Yogesh Sasane came to the meeting in commando’s uniforms to attract attention towards the need of protection to civic officials from relatives of BJP corporators.

The civic officials said the elected members claimed they had not studied the two important subjects, therefore, the House was adjourned. But details of the proposal were made available well in advance. Such an adjournment unnecessarily delayed the proposal, which will affect the implementation of plans of the civic body.