Pune: Congress leader and former cabinet minister Balasaheb Thorat on Sunday demanded an inquiry into the unopposed election of corporators, alleging undue pressure during the election process.“The BJP attempted to put pressure on the election system. It must be verified whether candidates were pressured into withdrawing their nominations,” Thorat said at a press conference.He alleged that frequent changes to the election schedule, last-minute amendments to rules and regulations, and obstacles faced by candidates in raising objections adversely affected opposition parties. Thorat added that if elections were conducted transparently, the Congress would have a stronger chance of success.“BJP speaks only about development, but its leaders are more focused on corruption. Public funds were not used responsibly during the BJP’s tenure in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC),” he said.Thorat further claimed that the ruling dispensation had failed to address key civic issues such as pollution, traffic congestion, crime and water scarcity.Other Congress leaders alleged that the BJP failed to undertake any meaningful development work when it was in power in PMC. They also accused the BJP and the NCP of attacking each other at the civic level while remaining allies at the state level. They are misleading the public with mutual allegations and are attempting to grab space meant for opposition parties, the leaders said.Congress on Thursday released its manifesto for the PMC polls. Key promises include zero property tax for homes measuring less than 500sqft, free bus services for women, and measures to make the city free of the ‘koyta gang’.Party leaders said the manifesto also proposes several welfare initiatives, including a facilitation centre for gig workers and dedicated rest and sanitation facilities for unorganised sector workers at ‘Majur Adda’ (labour assembly points). Other proposals include the construction of a ‘Molkarin Bhavan’ for domestic workers and the introduction of a ‘Mahanagar Health Card’ to access services at civic hospitals and health centres.
