Pune: In a politically charged move, three BJP leaders from the district—Harshvardhan Patil, Asha Buchke, and Bala Bhegade—have been allocated ₹1 crore each from the District Planning and Development Council (DPDC).
The decision has sparked speculation about the underlying political motivations, especially as Asha Buchke, one of the beneficiaries, had previously shown black flags in protest to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The allocation of funds to these leaders comes amid rumors of potential rebellion within the BJP ranks. Patil, Buchke, and Bhegade were reportedly dissatisfied with recent developments, leading to talk that they might rebel against the party.
However, the release of funds from the DPDC appears to be a strategic move to quell their dissent and bring them back into the fold.
What makes this move particularly controversial is the exclusion of two Congress MLAs and one MLA from the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP from the funding allocation.
While the DPDC has approved projects worth ₹300 crore in total, leaders such as Sanjay Jagtap, Sangram Thopte, and Ashok Pawar have been left out, fueling accusations of political bias.
The BJP leaders were reportedly upset over being sidelined and appeared to be on the verge of rebellion. Now, with the release of funds, their grievances seem to have been addressed.
However, this move is likely to anger Ajit Pawar's faction within the NCP, particularly since Asha Buchke, who had previously opposed Ajit Pawar publicly, was also included in the fund distribution.
Meanwhile, the opposition has been left fuming over the selective allocation of funds. Sanjay Jagtap, Sangram Thopte, and Ashok Pawar, who were expecting financial support for their constituencies, have received nothing.
