Pune: As the battle for the Wadgaon Sheri assembly seat within the Mahayuti alliance intensifies, a conflict has erupted between current MLA Sunil Tingre and former BJP MLA Jagdish Mulik.
The controversy arose when Tingre, representing the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, released posters for an upcoming ₹300 crore development project ceremony in the constituency.
The posters, notably, featured only Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, sparking outrage from Mulik, who accused Tingre of ignoring other key leaders in the alliance, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Mulik took to social media to express his displeasure, questioning whether only the BJP and Shiv Sena are expected to adhere to the alliance's principles.
He pointed out that the development projects, which include significant infrastructure improvements in Yerawada, were pursued by various members of the Mahayuti, yet Tingre's actions suggest a deliberate attempt to sideline their contributions.
The foundation stone will be laid for development projects in Yerawada Central Building, Yerawada Regional Mental Hospital Building, and the Office of the Commissioner of Land Records and Settlement Buildings, amounting to ₹306.41 crores.
Ajit Pawar will also inspect the ongoing construction of the Ahilya Bhavan building under the Department of Women and Child Welfare. This program has been organized by Sunil Tingre, an MLA from the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP.
Posters of the event have been displayed around the area, with no mention of the Mahayuti government or its other leaders, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. This has led to a strong reaction from former BJP MLA Jagdish Mulik.
Jagdish Mulik expressed his anger, saying, "Is it only the BJP and Shiv Sena who must uphold the Mahayuti's principles in the Wadgaon Sheri assembly? Upholding the alliance's principles is the responsibility of every constituent party, but it seems the MLA from Wadgaon Sheri has forgotten this!"
Mulik criticized Tingre, tweeting that while the foundation stone is being laid for development projects worth ₹300 crores, which is good news for the citizens, the MLA deliberately ignores the contributions of other alliance members who followed up on these projects.
He further tweeted that when ₹300 crores in funding is secured, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also contribute, but the MLA did not even show the courtesy of including their photos, driven by a selfish desire to take all the credit.
