Pune: NCP Corporators Allege Unequal Fund Distribution by BJP in PMC, Push for MLC Seat in Meeting with DyCM Sunetra Pawar
Pune, 23rd May 2026: Discontent within the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Pune surfaced during a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Friday, with corporators and office-bearers of the NCP allegedly complaining of “step-motherly treatment” by BJP leaders in fund allocation and civic administration.
Sources present at the meeting held at Baramati Hostel in Pune said several corporators accused BJP functionaries in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) of sidelining NCP members and exercising arbitrary control over civic affairs.
According to party insiders, NCP corporators raised concerns over unequal distribution of development funds in the PMC and alleged that BJP leaders were attempting to politically weaken elected representatives from the NCP faction. Some corporators also urged the party leadership to strongly pursue the Pune Local Authorities Constituency MLC seat for the NCP during the upcoming seat-sharing discussions within the Mahayuti alliance.
The meeting assumes significance amid growing competition between BJP and the NCP over the Pune Local Authorities constituency ahead of the Legislative Council elections.
Sources said corporators conveyed to Sunetra Pawar that despite being alliance partners, NCP members were not receiving equitable treatment in the PMC. They also referred to an earlier letter written by Sunetra Pawar to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking equal allocation of civic funds for all Mahayuti corporators in Pune.
PMC opposition leader Nilesh Nikam had also recently alleged that BJP leaders were discriminating against NCP corporators in allocation of development works and budgetary provisions.
The issue of the Pune Local Authorities constituency also figured prominently during the discussions. While Sunetra Pawar avoided making any direct comments on the matter after the meeting, party leaders indicated that there was strong sentiment within the NCP camp that the seat should remain with their party.
Earlier, Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane had publicly asserted that the NCP has sufficient numerical strength in Pune district to stake claim to the MLC seat.
However, BJP leaders have intensified lobbying for the seat, claiming superior numbers in local bodies across Pune district. BJP leader Ganesh Bidkar has reportedly claimed that BJP and its supporting local fronts together command 333 votes in the constituency, including support from regional alliances in Indapur and Daund.
The BJP’s dominant position in the PMC, where it claims support of 119 out of 165 corporators, has further strengthened its case, party leaders said.
Speaking briefly to reporters after Friday’s meeting, Sunetra Pawar said discussions were held on various organisational and political matters and that she had interacted with party office-bearers after a long time. She, however, refrained from commenting directly on the complaints raised during the closed-door meeting.
