Auditorium renovation rekindles BJP-Shiv Sena tiff

The endless tiffs between the BJP and the Shiv Sena continue with one more example added to the list. On Saturday, the renovation work for Mulund Kalidas Sabhagriha was inaugurated for the second time, with the Shiv Sena taking the lead this time with the presence of Yuva Sena president Aditya Thackeray. Ironically, on February 21, Improvements Committee chairman Prakash Gangadhare had inaugurated the renovation work the first time around, along with residents of the area, in the presence of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya and Manoj Kotak, a BJP leader in the BMC. No Sena leaders had been present then.

Civic officials, however, said that Saturday's function was the official one.

On Saturday, the inauguration of the renovation work at Mulund Kalidas Sabhagriha was carried out by Mumbai Mayor Snehal Ambekar in the presence of Gangaram Gavankar, the president of Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Natya Sammelan.

A BJP functionary claimed that the idea of completing the renovation work before the civic elections in 2017 was taken up by Gangadhare under the leadership of Somaiya. "While all the processes were completed by Gangadhare, the Shiv Sena now wants to take credit when the funds (for the renovation) have been allocated in the budget. Gangadhare, however, had already kicked off the work a week ago."

Those present at the function on Saturday included the leader of the house Trushna Vishwasrao, Standing Committee chairman Yashodhar Phanse, MLA Sardar Tara Singh, Kotak, Somaiya and Gangadhare.