Pune: Uproar in PMC General Body Meeting Over Motion Condemning Alleged Theft at Ram Temple
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 30th June 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) General Body meeting witnessed heated exchanges on Tuesday after an adjournment motion condemning the alleged theft at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was rejected.
The issue triggered political drama in the House, which had already been grappling with concerns over the lack of quorum due to poor attendance by corporators at the start of the meeting.
The General Body meeting began at around 11.15 am with a noticeably low attendance of elected representatives. Of the BJP’s 121 corporators, only 21 were present when the proceedings commenced, raising doubts over whether the House had the required quorum to conduct business. Senior office-bearers, the Leader of the House, and civic officials were seen discussing the situation as the possibility of adjourning the meeting due to insufficient attendance loomed.
Amid the uncertainty, Congress group leader Chandu Kadam moved an adjournment motion seeking to condemn the alleged theft at the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He demanded an immediate discussion on the matter. Congress leader Prashant Jagtap also sought permission to speak in detail on the motion.
The move was seen as putting the ruling BJP in a politically uncomfortable position, as a debate on the issue could have forced the party to respond on a sensitive matter. The development led to tense moments in the House, with political exchanges intensifying for a brief period.
Considering the situation, the Mayor decided to avoid a prolonged debate and instead called for a direct vote on the adjournment motion. The motion was defeated after 31 members voted against it, while four supported it.
Shortly after the motion was rejected, the proceedings of the General Body meeting were adjourned.
Interestingly, several BJP corporators arrived in the House only after the voting process had concluded. Their delayed arrival reportedly drew criticism from party office-bearers, with discussions within PMC circles suggesting that some members were reprimanded for their late attendance.
The episode has once again brought the issue of poor attendance in PMC General Body meetings into focus. Opposition members have alleged that low participation is affecting the functioning of the civic body, while also raising questions over the ruling party’s organisational coordination.
