Controversy erupts over KMC transport committee chairman nomination among Mahayuti partners

Kolhapur: A controversy has erupted among the Mahayuti parties over the filing of nominations for the transport committee chairman for the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation. Despite clear instructions from Mahayuti ministers, Shiv Sena filed the nomination for corporator Satyajit Jadhav for the transport committee chairman in place of NCP's Manasi Lolage. NCP group leader Adil Faras said, "NCP should not be taken lightly in Mahayuti, or else we will have to show our power". The ongoing rift between Shiv Sena group leader for KMC Sharangdhar Deshmukh and NCP group leader Adil Faras further escalated over the nomination row. The forms for the KMC standing committee, transport committee, and women and child welfare committee chairpersons' posts were filed on Friday for the elections scheduled to be held on Monday. On Friday, BJP corporator Vishal Shirale's name was confirmed for the post of KMC standing committee chairman. Accordingly, Shirale filed his nomination from Mahayuti, whereas Amar Samarth filed his nomination from Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT). Meanwhile, Shiv Sena's Satyajit Jadhav and Congress's Durvas Kadam filed their applications for the transport dommittee post. For the post of women and dhild welfare committee chairman, BJP's Kausar Bagwan, filed her nomination, whereas Jayashree Kamble of the Congress filed her nomination. While filing their applications, an argument broke out between BJP corporator professor Jayant Patil and NCP corporator and group leader Adil Faras in the standing committee hall. Speaking about this controversy, Patilsaid, "After guardian minister Prakash Abitkar gave the message to give the transport committee chairman's post to NCP, their group leader Adil Faras was immediately informed. But he was late in coming to the municipal corporation. As a result, NCP's Manasi Lolage could not file the application for the post of transport committee chairman. Since the Congress candidate should not be elected unopposed, Shiv Sena's Satyajit Jadhav's application was filed at the last moment after informing minister Chandrakant Patil." NCP group leader Adil Faras said, "Prof Patil gave the order to come to the KMC at 4.48 pm on Friday. It was impossible to come in 10-12 minutes. By then, the application deadline had expired. We have no complaints against the BJP."