Shirur council deputy chairman post lost; Sharad Pawar group councillors allege misgovernance

The internal tussle between the two Nationalist Congress Party factions in Shirur Municipal Council politics has now come into the open. Councillor Mitesh Gadiya of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP had to give up the post of deputy chairman. The alliance between the two NCP factions had the consent of industrialist Prakash Dhariwal and former MLA Adv. Ashok Pawar, yet Gadiya had to step down because of internal political developments.

Councillors of the Sharad Pawar group have since turned aggressive. They have made serious allegations about the functioning of the council and issued a direct challenge to those in power.

It is also being discussed in the town that the political blow the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction dealt the Sharad Pawar group was an indirect move to challenge Prakash Dhariwal's influence. The dominance and influence of the well-known industrialist in Shirur politics has always been a talking point.

After Gadiya gave up the post, councillors of the Sharad Pawar group held a press conference at the home of councillor and group leader Ravindra Dhoble on the occasion of Diwali muhurat. There they set out a full account of the council's working. Those present included Muzaffar Qureshi, city president of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), Dhoble, Gadiya, water supply committee chairperson Sunita Pote, Swapnali Jamdar, Charushila Kolpakar, Amol Chavan and other office-bearers.

Pote alleged large-scale irregularities in water supply funds. She also claimed that works are being carried out without taking councillors into confidence and that contracts for various works are being given only to relatives of office-bearers.

Group leader Dhoble said the council's affairs are being run from Wagholi. He alleged that, under the guidance of MLA Dnyaneshwar Katke, the municipal council president's husband is running the entire administration. Dhoble remarked sarcastically that a "Wagholi pattern" is now in operation in the council. He also said Gadiya was removed as deputy chairman despite the alliance between the two NCP factions. Dhoble warned that, if needed, the fight would be taken to court after consulting senior leaders.

Gadiya, Jamdar, Kolpakar and Chavan alleged that the council president is discriminating in development works.

Meanwhile, the alliance of the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) and the BJP has created a "Pacharne" equation in the council, but the aggressive stance of the Sharad Pawar group has posed a challenge to this hold on power. The roles of industrialist Prakash Dhariwal and former MLA Adv. Ashok Pawar could be decisive in the coming period. The council fight is no longer only about posts but has become a battle for dominance in Shirur politics.