The Bharuch Municipal Council meeting turned chaotic due to heated discussions over corruption allegations involving the opposition and ruling party members. The discussion focused on iconic road projects and high mast poles, with the opposition accusing the ruling party of mismanagement and corruption. During the meeting, opposition member Saleem Ahmedabad demanded a discussion on various city issues outlined in a letter he submitted. This request led to intense arguments between both sides. The ruling party eventually agreed to include the discussion on the agenda but only after calming the opposition members down.
As the meeting progressed, opposition member Hemendra Kothiwala raised concerns about the state of cleanliness at the Dashashv Megh Ghat cremation ground, suggesting that the municipality should pay more attention to sanitation. He also accused the ruling party of corruption regarding the specifications of the iconic road and high mast poles. The opposition called for the establishment of a committee to investigate these allegations.
The atmosphere became even more charged when the ruling party approved all agenda items by majority vote, concluding the meeting with the national anthem. The opposition accused the ruling party of avoiding discussions by hiding behind the anthem. Opposition leader Samasada Ali Syed claimed that the ruling BJP members fled the discussions under the guise of singing the anthem, which he deemed unacceptable.
Saleem Ahmedabad echoed these sentiments, stating that the BJP members abandoned the meeting when corruption was brought up. He assured that their written requests concerning city issues would be included in future discussions but criticized the ruling party for prematurely ending the meeting when corruption was raised.
Another opposition member, Sadikabi Sheikh, raised issues about local sanitation inspectors allegedly displaying caste bias. He claimed that when locals reported sanitation issues, the inspector responded with derogatory remarks and suggested he be transferred to another ward due to his behaviour.
In response to the opposition’s accusations, Municipal President Vibhutiba Yadav claimed that these allegations were politically motivated, especially with upcoming elections. She stated that any irregularities in the iconic road or high mast poles would be addressed promptly and that actions would be taken against any officials or contractors found guilty of misconduct.
The meeting saw participation from several key figures, including administrative committee chairman Hemendra Prajapati and other leaders from both parties. This incident highlights the ongoing political tensions within the Bharuch Municipal Corporation, as both sides continue to grapple with issues of governance and accountability in the city.