BJP diverts Rs 5 crore from Pune’s Baner ward fund amid NCP row

On Tuesday, the ruling BJP in Pune's civic body made a controversial decision to divert approximately Rs 5 crore allocated for local area development in Baner, a ward represented by NCP corporator Amol Balwadkar. This move appears to signal that the alliance between the BJP and NCP will remain limited to the state level, rather than extending to local governance.

The decision came in the wake of Balwadkar's request for an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the spending of a legislator's local area development fund in the Kothrud Assembly constituency, which is represented by BJP minister Chandrakant Patil. Baner is situated within the Kothrud constituency.

Balwadkar, who served as a BJP corporator in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) from 2017 to 2022, later sought to contest the Kothrud Assembly seat in the 2024 elections. However, his bid was unsuccessful, as he was not fielded by the BJP in the 2026 civic elections. Subsequently, Balwadkar joined the NCP led by Ajit Pawar and was re-elected to the civic body.

During the PMC general body meeting, the BJP tabled a proposal to divert the Rs 5 crore allocation for local area development in Balwadkar's ward. Both Balwadkar and opposition leader Nilesh Nikam opposed the proposal. Ganesh Bidkar, BJP's house leader, stated that the alliance with the NCP was confined to the state level due to the NCP's lack of cooperation.

Balwadkar, who staged a walkout in protest, alleged that the BJP had initially denied budgetary provision for local area development in Baner, but only granted Rs 5 crore after the NCP raised the issue. He emphasized that the fund was intended for the development of the area and not for personal benefit, expressing concern over the ruling BJP's decision to withhold the allocated funds.