With the Mumbai civic polls slated early next year, ties between Shiv Sena and BJP seem to have hit a new low with the city Mayor accusing Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of insulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of co-operative federalism by attending an “unofficial” event.
The latest bone of contention between the ruling allies in the civic body was the inauguration of a Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM)-built swimming pool and gymnasium in suburban Dahisar by Fadnavis, which the Mayor Snehal Ambekar described as an “unofficial” event.
“The inauguration of the MCGM-built swimming pool and gymnasium in Dahisar by you yesterday was an unofficial event. It is an insult to the MCGM as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of co-operative federalism,” Ambekar, who is from the Shiv Sena, said in a letter written to Fadnavis.
Ambekar claimed that the swimming pool and gymnasium were funded by the MCGM and the ‘bhoomipujan’ of the site was done by then Mayor Sunil Prabhu in presence of local corporators.
“The inauguration ceremony should have been conducted in an official way but you (Fadnavis), not having any place for any MCGM official (none from MCGM were invited for the inauguration) is an insult to Mumbai, its citizens and elected representatives,” claimed the Mayor.
Ambekar also said never has in the past any (state) government conducted any unofficial event as such.
The Opposition Congress and NCP took the internal squabbling as an opportunity to take a dig at the ruling allies.
“The BJP-Sena could not do anything for the people in all these years, wasted tax payers money in corruption. Now, as elections approach, each party wants to show its supremacy over the other in a desperate bid for votes,” NCP MLC Kiran Pawaskar said.
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee Secretary Al-Nasser Zakaria said, “both parties are hopeless and only looking out ways to suck the blood of Mumbaikars like leeches. Corruption, anarchy in the MCGM will continue unabated until they are thrown out of power.”
