KALYAN: The political fallout of the dispute between the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the BJP over the appointment of nominated corporators in Ulhasnagar has spread to Kalyan-Dombivli, with leaders of the two parties trading barbs over remarks against BJP state president Ravindra Chavan.The controversy intensified after Shiv Sena’s Shinde faction Kalyan district chief Gopal Landge defended remarks made by Shiv Sena functionary Kamlesh Nikam against Chavan, saying that what Nikam had said was true and that he had evidence to support his claims.Landge also accused the BJP of blaming the Shiv Sena for its setbacks in the nominated corporators’ selection process in Ulhasnagar. He claimed that BJP candidates had been disqualified and that the party had failed to field eligible candidates, but was holding the Shiv Sena responsible for the outcome.Defending Kalyan MP Dr Shrikant Shinde, Landge said the MP had consistently upheld the alliance’s principles and that BJP leaders’ statements against him were unjustified.“Dr Shrikant Shinde has always followed the yuti dharma (alliance principles). The statements being made by BJP leaders against him are wrong,” Landge said.Without naming Chavan directly, Landge also claimed that Shinde had undertaken more development work as an MP than some leaders had managed despite serving as ministers and legislators. He said the MP had not discriminated against elected representatives while allocating development funds and had provided funds for development works to all.His remarks drew a sharp response from BJP leaders in Kalyan-Dombivli, bringing the growing tensions between the alliance partners into focus.Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) House leader Varun Patil hit back at the Shiv Sena, saying its functionaries had no standing to make remarks against state BJP chief.“Shiv Sena functionaries are not qualified to comment on our leaders,” Patil said, criticising Landge for supporting the remarks against Chavan.BJP group leader in the KDMC, Shashikant Kamble, also expressed displeasure over Landge’s intervention in the controversy.“We did not expect mature leaders like Gopal Landge to get involved in such petty issues. Everyone knows Ravindra Chavan’s political stature,” Kamble said.The exchange comes amid an ongoing dispute between the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena over the appointment of nominated corporators in the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation. Shiv Sena mayor Ashwini Nikam had announced Shiv Sena candidates for seats that fell under the BJP’s quota of nominated corporators, prompting the BJP to approach the Bombay High Court.The court has stayed further proceedings related to the appointment of nominated corporators. The matter is scheduled to come up for its next hearing on October 12, and the outcome is being closely watched by both parties.The latest war of words in Kalyan-Dombivli indicates that the fallout is no longer confined to Ulhasnagar’s civic politics. The statements have also raised questions about the stability of the BJP-Sena partnership in the region, with attention now focused on how the senior leadership of both parties responds to the escalating tensions.
