Pune Bharatiya Janata Party boycotted the annual Pavanathadi fair

PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party boycotted the annual Pavanathadi fair, where products made by women's self help groups are displayed. The party unit boycotted the event to protest against the municipal corporation not mentioning the names of some of the BJP leaders including that of district guardian minister Girish Bapat in the official invitation cards.
BJP group leader Varsha Madigiri condemned the action of the civic administration. As per protocol it was necessary that the name of district guardian minister should be mentioned in the official invitation card. We have made a demand that the name of the guardian minister should be mentioned in the all future invitation cards'', Madigiri said. PCMC opposition leader Vinod Nadhe also criticized the civic administration for not mentioning the name of MLA Sangram Thopte, who represents Bhor Mulshi assembly constituency.
Former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar however said that it is the prerogative of the mayor to include names in the official invitation cards. Pawar was speaking after inaugurating Pavanathadi fair on Thursday.
Meanwhile, it is likely that there would be more addition of names in the official invitation cards because of the demand made by political parties. Currently, names of the mayor, MP's from Shirur and Chinchwad, MLAs from Bhosari, Pimpri and Chinchwad, deputy mayor, office-bearers of the PCMC committees are mentioned in the cards.