The Pimpri-Chinchwad BJP has removed municipal house leader Prashant Shitole from its 14-member core committee after repeated concerns over coordination and disagreements among the party’s office-bearers in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, according to a report by Loksatta – Pune.
The core committee, which has been reshuffled by the party’s state committee, is responsible for determining the BJP’s city-level policy, taking organisational decisions and enforcing internal discipline. Party office-bearers and corporators have been instructed not to make public or media statements on any issue without the committee’s approval or prior discussion, the report said.
The committee also has the authority to initiate disciplinary action against corporators who take a position against the party in the municipal corporation or elsewhere. It can assign important posts and responsibilities based on the contribution of party workers and the organisation, according to the report.
The reshuffle follows criticism within the party over the functioning of the BJP-led civic administration. The report said disagreements and a lack of coordination among Mayor Ravi Landge, standing committee chairperson Abhishek Barne and house leader Shitole had become visible on several occasions. In one instance, the mayor reportedly withdrew a proposal concerning the appointment of nominated corporators before the August general body meeting.
The August general body meeting was subsequently adjourned until September 17 despite opposition from the mayor, the report said. Opposition leaders had alleged that Shitole exerted pressure on the mayor over the matter. They had also accused BJP leaders and office-bearers of failing to show adequate concern for the city’s development. These allegations were reported as claims by the opposition and were not independently established in the supplied material.
The BJP state committee took serious note of incidents that, according to the report, were damaging the party’s image. Shitole was then removed from the core committee as part of the changes. The report did not state whether he would be removed from his municipal position as house leader.
BJP city president and core committee member Shatrughna Kate said municipal office-bearers had been instructed to coordinate their work so that the civic body’s functioning remained smooth. He also said they had been asked to ensure that their conduct did not damage the party’s image.
The reconstituted core committee includes Kate, MLA Mahesh Landge, Shankar Jagtap, Uma Khapre, Amit Gorkhe, Mayor Ravi Landge, former MP Amar Sable, former MLA Ashwini Jagtap, party in-charge Bharat Patil, city executive general secretary Vaishali Khadye, Moreshwar Shedge, Madhukar Bacche, Vikas Dolas and former city president Sadashiv Khade. The next reported municipal milestone is the general body meeting scheduled for September 17.
