BJP-Sena protests Zagade’s transfer

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena alliance on Tuesday protested against the transfer of municipal commissioner, Mahesh Zagade, and demonstrated at the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) building on Tuesday. They alleged that Zagade had been transferred in connivance with the builders and architects involved in unauthorised construction.

The BJP-Sena corporators sat on the stairs of the PMC’s main building and shouted slogans condemning the state government and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. Standing committee chairman Ganesh Bidkar led the agitation.

Group leader of Shiv Sena, Sham Deshpande, told the media that Zagade’s transfer was cheating of an honest officer by politicians and bureaucrats.”

According to Deshpande, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had caused damage to the PMC and the city by transferring an officer who had taken action against illegal construction. “The state government should cancel Zagade’s transfer and allow him to complete his tenure,” he said.

BJP corporator Vikas Mathkari said Zagade’s transfer meant that the NCP-Congress state government had succumbed to builder mafia pressure.

Mathkari said, “Pawar was upset with the style of functioning of Zagade. People’s apprehension that Zagade would be shifted has come true.”

Mathkari said, “The state government took a stand that the training for which Zagade had gone was mandatory. However, six other IAS officers in the state who were due for training were not sent for training under the pretext that their services were required.”

Mathkari admitted that even the BJP-Sena had reservations about Zagade’s style of functioning. He said Zagade’s transfer was a warning to the new municipal commissioner that he could face the same fate if he took action against illegal construction.