Pune: BJP Says Proposal by Standing Committee to Earmark Protest Sites Sent for PMC Chief’s Opinion; Congress Disputes Claim

Pune, 9th October 2026: A proposal to earmark two separate grounds in Pune for protests and hunger strikes has triggered a dispute between the BJP and the Congress, with the latter claiming that no such proposal was placed before the civic body’s standing committee for discussion or feedback.

Congress leader and standing committee member Prashant Jagtap said no proposal on earmarking protest grounds had come up for discussion or comments at Thursday’s standing committee meeting. However, BJP leader and house leader Ganesh Bidkar maintained that the municipal commissioner’s opinion had been sought on the proposal.

Bidkar has proposed reserving two large sites or grounds in Pune, on the lines of Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, for protests and hunger strikes. Standing committee chairman Shrinath Bhimale is listed as the seconder of the proposal.

The proposal argues that designated protest venues would help reduce traffic congestion and inconvenience to residents caused by demonstrations at different locations across the city.

The document refers to discussions in the standing committee and seeks the municipal commissioner’s opinion on reserving two large grounds for protests. It also records the approval of the committee chairman and carries the signatures of the proposer and seconder.

The conflicting claims by the BJP and Congress have raised questions over the proposal’s status and whether it was formally taken up by the standing committee.