Gopal Landge of the Shiv Sena stood by Kamlesh Nikam’s critical statements about BJP president Ravindra Chavan
KALYAN: The political fallout of the dispute between the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the BJP over the appointment of nominated corporators in Ulhasnagar has spread to Kalyan-Dombivli, with leaders of the two parties trading barbs over remarks against BJP state president Ravindra Chavan.
The controversy intensified after Shiv Sena’s Shinde faction Kalyan district chief Gopal Landge defended remarks made by Shiv Sena functionary Kamlesh Nikam against Chavan, saying that what Nikam had said was true and that he had evidence to support his claims. Defending Kalyan MP Dr Shrikant Shinde, Landge said the MP had consistently upheld the alliance’s principles and that BJP leaders’ statements against him were unjustified. The statements being made by BJP leaders against him are wrong,” Landge said. He said the MP had not discriminated against elected representatives while allocating development funds and had provided funds for development works to all. “Shiv Sena functionaries are not qualified to comment on our leaders,” Patil said, criticising Landge for supporting the remarks against Chavan.
Landge also accused the BJP of blaming the Shiv Sena for its setbacks in the nominated corporators’ selection process in Ulhasnagar. He claimed that BJP candidates had been disqualified and that the party had failed to field eligible candidates, but was holding the Shiv Sena responsible for the outcome. “Dr Shrikant Shinde has always followed the yuti dharma (alliance principles).