Akola: High drama unfolded at the Akola Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Monday as a standing committee meeting witnessed fierce confrontation between BJP and Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena. The altercation between standing committee chairman Vijay Agrawal and Shiv Sena (Shinde) group leader Sagar Bharuka escalated into a verbal spat, with both leaders allegedly using abusive language.The meeting, convened immediately after the general body session, turned chaotic over disagreements regarding the quality of ongoing development works. As tempers flared, Agrawal ordered suspension of Bharuka from the committee proceedings for 15 days, further intensifying tensions inside the hall.BJP group leader Pawan Mahalle, along with police personnel, intervened in time to prevent the situation from turning into a physical scuffle. Following the incident, security was tightened in the municipal premises to avoid any further escalation.Chairman Vijay Agrawal justified his decision, saying, “Sagar Bharuka was unnecessarily insisting on discussing previous meeting issues and was trying to pressure municipal officials. Such behaviour amounts to hooliganism and cannot be tolerated inside the House. Disciplinary action was necessary to maintain decorum.”Countering the claims, Sagar Bharuka accused the chairman of high-handedness. He said, “We were not being allowed to raise issues. The chairman was acting arbitrarily. When we objected, he resorted to abusive language in the House, even in the presence of women corporators. This is an insult to the dignity of the House. I was subjected to obscene abuse, which is unacceptable.”
