Pune Civic Row: BJP Slashes Development Funds For NCP Corporators Amol Balwadkar & Suhas Tingre To Zero
· Free Press Journal
Pune: The internal differences within the Mahayuti alliance in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have intensified after the BJP slashed the development funds of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporators Amol Balwadkar and Suhas Tingre to zero. The two NCP leaders had publicly criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Minister Chandrakant Patil and other senior BJP leaders.
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BJP House Leader Ganesh Bidkar has reported the action to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar. He has also submitted a complaint against the two corporators. In his letter, Bidkar said the decision to set the funds for Balwadkar and Tingre’s wards at zero was taken because of their repeated criticism of senior leaders of the alliance partner.
‘Decision Won’t Affect Development’
However, he said the decision would not affect development works for residents of the two wards. The move has brought the differences between the BJP and NCP within the civic body into the open. The BJP has also rejected allegations that NCP corporators were being denied an opportunity to speak in the House or were being treated unfairly in the allocation of funds. Bidkar cited data from general body meetings held between February and July 2026. He said 126 BJP members were given a combined 1,160 minutes to speak, while 27 NCP members were given 506 minutes.
According to the figures, this worked out to an average of around nine minutes per BJP member and 18 minutes per NCP member. Bidkar said the figures showed that NCP members were given more speaking time on average than BJP members. He said the leaders making such allegations should first look at the actual figures from the House.
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The BJP has also disputed claims that NCP corporators received less development funding. Bidkar referred to fund allocations during the NCP’s tenure in 2013-14 and 2014-15. He said BJP corporators received comparatively lower allocations during that period. For 2026-27, he claimed that substantial funds had been allocated to members of other parties, including NCP corporators, along with BJP members.
The latest action is also linked to Balwadkar’s public criticism of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ rally. Bidkar said Balwadkar had made remarks against CM Fadnavis, Patil and Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure. Videos of his comments were widely circulated, he said. Bidkar also referred to a resolution moved by Balwadkar and Tingre on 7th August. The resolution sought an inquiry into works carried out using MLA funds in the Kothrud Assembly constituency.
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The BJP’s decision to set the development funds of both NCP corporators at zero is likely to further strain relations within the Mahayuti in Pune. Despite the action, Bidkar said civic development work for residents would not be affected. He maintained that the decision was aimed at the conduct of the two corporators and not at the people living in their wards. Copies of the complaint have also been sent to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, BJP state president Ravindra Chavan, Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol and Minister Chandrakant Patil.