Pune: BJP, Opposition Spar Over Corporators’ Contribution to Drought Relief Fund at PMC General Body Meeting
Pune, 17th October 2026: A proposal by the BJP to contribute corporators’ honorarium towards drought relief for farmers triggered a heated exchange with the Congress and both NCP factions at the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) general body meeting on Friday.
BJP corporators Dhiraj Ghate and Yogesh Mulik moved a proposal seeking a year’s honorarium from all corporators for the Chief Minister’s Drought Relief Fund. Opposition parties objected, saying they supported helping drought-hit farmers but accused the BJP of politicising the issue by moving the proposal without consulting other parties.
Leader of Opposition Nilesh Nikam of the NCP’s Ajit Pawar faction proposed that his party’s corporators contribute one month’s honorarium instead. The BJP subsequently moved a proposal for its own corporators to contribute a year’s honorarium, which was unanimously approved. The final decision was for corporators to contribute one month’s honorarium.
Congress group leader Chandu Kadam said the party stood firmly with drought-hit farmers but accused the BJP of using the issue for political gains. He said the mayor should have convened a meeting of all party leaders before bringing the proposal to the House.
Nikam questioned the BJP’s authority to take a decision on behalf of all parties without prior consultation. He alleged that the ruling party had taken other corporators for granted by moving the proposal unilaterally.
The meeting also saw a disagreement over the civic body employees’ bonus. Congress corporator Sunil Shinde raised the issue, prompting Ghate to object, saying it was inappropriate to discuss bonuses amid the drought crisis. Deputy Mayor Parshuram Wadekar also accused Congress corporators of opposing the drought relief fund.
Meanwhile, municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has suggested that the PMC contribute Rs 5 crore towards assistance for drought-hit farmers.
