Pune: Members of NCP on Tuesday staged a protest at Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation following another deferment of a decision to approve its co-opted members. Sloganeering by the protesters prompted the mayor to briefly adjourn the general body meeting.The deferment was ostensibly caused by BJP’s delay in submitting its list of nominees — based on its floor strength, the party is eligible to nominate seven. The protesters demanded that the mayor immediately approve the three names submitted by NCP and decide on BJP’s list later.The civic body appoints 10 co-opted members from sectors such as health, education.The mayor said the matter would be taken up in the next general body meeting, scheduled for May 15, and said BJP has yet to finalise the final nomination.However, leader of opposition Bhausaheb Bhoir alleged that the deferment was because BJP objected to one of NCP’s nominees. “No one from the BJP has approached me directly, but I fail to understand how another party can decide our nominees,” he said.“Whatever issues the BJP has should remain internal to them. Our nominations should not be held up,” Bhoir said, adding that the house could reject NCP’s list in case of a disagreement.House leader Prashant Shitole of BJP said the party has no objection to NCP’s nominees and that they would submit their list soon. NCP submitted its list in March, while BJP sought a month’s time. A decision has since been pending.Bhoir said there was precedent, referring to Pune Municipal Corporation’s general body approving one party’s nominees first and the rest in a subsequent meeting.
