Conflict within BJP: Balya Borkar levels allegations against Kukde

 

 

 

Ex-corporator and a senior functionary of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Balya Borkar has alleged that the party’s City President Jitendra Kukde is utilising services of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) employees. He had also alleged that the employees who were helped by Kukde to get the job never attended the duties and their salary amount should be recovered. The conflict within BJP is haunting the senior leaders of the party. When ‘The Hitavada’ contacted Jitendra Kukde, he said, he would not speak on the issue. According to some leaders, who on condition of anonymity, said, a person Nikhil Kawle hails from a poor family whose elder brother is bed-ridden. Nikhil has to look after him and never avoided attending duties. He was helped by Kukde in getting the job.

 

Senior BJP leaders are not speaking openly about the issue though they are aware of the facts, sources added. Meanwhile, Balya Borkar alleged that he received a life-threatening call from Nikhil Kawle. Borkar held Kukde responsible for not allowing him to talk to media. According to Borkar, his two niece are being ill-treated by the NMC officers at the behest of Kukde. There was never all well between Kukde and Borkar. In 2020 when Kukde was made Chairman of Transport Committee of NMC, he started several projects including Nagpur Darshan. But Borkar, after succeeding Kukde, did not care for those projects.

 

BJP may overcome this particular dispute but it also shows all is not well even inside it, like in the constituents of MVA. According to sources, Kukde would prefer to resign as the city chief but won’t allow his supporter to become a scapegoat. According to a senior leader, the issue is likely to be sorted out by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis when he visits Nagpur in next two days.