PONDA: On Friday, a high drama was witnessed on the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, at Farmagudi Fort, where two functions of the archrival politicians were held at the same time.
The locals had a ball of a time with Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar and Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude criticising each other without taking the names in the public.
Dhavalikar blamed the Chief Minister for the situation. In the morning, official function was held wherein Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant attended. Another separate function was held by Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar and Bandora Panchayat.
Soon after the official, Dhavalikar, MGP President Deepak Dhavalikar, Bandora Panchayat Sarpanch Rajesh Naik, Kavlem Sarpanch Rajesh Kavlekar, Kavlem Zilla Panchayat member Ganpat Naik, panchas and supporters of Dhavalikar came to the fort and separately celebrated Shivjayanti by garlanding the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
When asked by the media persons why they did not participated in the official function and why they are celebrating separate Shivjayanti at the Farmagudi Fort, Dhavalikar said, “We are doing this peacefully without halting the official function.”
Further, he blamed the Chief Minister for not giving a due respect to Bandora Panchayat. Dhavalikar also attacked Art and Culture Minister without taking his name. He cited the reasons that the Farmagudi Fort lies in the Bandora Panchayat jurisdiction and ever since the fort is constructed with installing the Shivaji statue in 1973, every Chief Minister including Shashikala Tai Kakodkar, Pratapsing Rane up to Manohar Parrikar gave due honour to the Bandora Panchayat as host or giving chairmanship in organising the programme.
