1 week Ago
Vadodara: BJP councillor Ashish Joshi is in a spot over his arguments and alleged misbehaviour with municipal commissioner Dilip Rana . The BJP on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to Joshi for his ‘frequent indiscipline' and asked him to provide an explanation within three days. This came after Joshi had a spat with Rana during the general board meeting of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) two days ago.
"Joshi has been given three days to reply to the notice. The party will act based on his reply," said Satyen Kulabker, general secretary, Vadodara BJP. While Joshi's outburst against Rana didn't go down well with the BJP, the party was also unhappy at Joshi over his past actions.
Sources in the BJP said the party disapproved of Joshi's stand after he supported the Congress's demand for Rs 25 lakh to be paid as compensation to the victims of the Harni boat capsize last January. "There have been allegations of misbehaviour against him. He took certain decisions that were against the party's stand.
Joshi will have to give a satisfactory reply as his actions embarrassed the party," said a BJP leader. Joshi sparred with Rana during the VMC general board meeting two days ago over a choked stormwater drain in his area. "I will reply within the stipulated time and clear the misunderstanding.
My representation was only for the people and not against the party office-bearer. I will also provide details of the work done by me in the last four years," Joshi told TOI. During the general board meeting on Monday, Joshi said the choked Mahanagar stormwater drain, which has garbage in it, is causing problems for residents.
He said that he had raised the issue with Rana several times but when he didn't get a response, he decided to take it up during the VMC meet. When Joshi yelled at Rana, the latter too lost his cool and replied animatedly while both BJP and Congress councillors tried to intervene and defuse the situation. Rana on Tuesday said that the process to start cleaning the drain was underway.
He told mediapersons that Joshi had dragged in the chief minister's name without any reason and spoke in an arrogant manner while raising the drainage issue. VMC officials also objected to Joshi's behaviour with Rana and asked him to issue an apology, barring which they will take further measures. BOX: BJP councillor Ashish Joshi on Tuesday refused to apologize to municipal commissioner Dilip Rana for his outburst during the VMC meeting.
"I was just raising the people's issues, and I got angry as my representations were constantly ignored. I won't apologize to anyone. I would rather apologize to the people for the delay in cleaning the stormwater drain.
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