PUNE: It seems corporators of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continue to remain upset about the “non-cooperative” approach of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials. Following several complaints, five corporators from Warje approached Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, during his visit to the city on Saturday, to complain about the administration’s “non-cooperative” attitude. 

Fadnavis has now convened a meeting of administrative officials and party office-bearers in Mumbai next week to ensure better coordination between the party and administration for speedy developmental work.

This is apparently the first such instance in the corporation’s history wherein corporators from the ruling party had to approach the chief minister to solve local issues. 

Sushil Mengade, BJP corporator from Warje and Chairman of City Improvement Committee (CIC), who had raised the issue of PMC administration’s non-cooperative approach during the General Body meeting held on Friday, criticised the administration for not carrying out developmental works in time. He moved an adjournment motion in the General Body meeting, which was later withdrawn following intervention from Leader of the House and other senior BJP corporators. Mengade had warned the administration to display posters, mentioning name and cellphone numbers of officials to help people directly approach them to resolve civic issues.  

Mengade said, “We shared information about administrative approach towards city’s development works. The chief minister has given us an assurance to call a meeting next week for solving development-related issues.’ Shrinath Bhimale, Leader of the House, confirmed the meeting.

A senior BJP corporators said, “It is a disturbing scenario in the PMC that the party is unable to handle the administration. There is lack of coordination within the party. In my two decades tenure as corporator, I never faced such a situation where we had to approach the chief minister to take note of local issues. This is the first time that the ruling party had to move an adjournment motion in the General Body meeting. It is rare.”

Earlier, BJP corporator Amol Balwadkar from Aundh-Baner area criticised the party saying the PMC administration has given no response to issues raised by him. He said he sent several letters to the ward office, but no one bothered to consider them. At that time, BJP had issued a show cause notice to him for criticising the party.