BJP Leaders Clash Over Seating At Govt. Function

Mumbai: A public dispute between BJP Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni and BJP MLA Abhimanyu Pawar over seating arrangements at the Maharashtra government meeting on Friday embarrassed the party. Ms. Kulkarni, a Brahmin, claimed that she was asked not to sit in the front row as the program was aimed at the Maratha community and her presence could create controversy. He later expressed his discomfort and left the event.

The incident took place during the felicitation ceremony organized by the state-run SARTHI (Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Institute of Research, Education and Human Development) in Pune. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended the program where successful candidates and their parents were honored for their success in UPSC, MPSC and other competitive exams.

Announcing her decision to leave, Ms. Kulkarni said that she attended the event to congratulate successful students. He said a few seats in the front row were vacant as Chief Minister Madhuri Misal and some other ministers were yet to arrive. “The officials told me that if the seats remain empty, I can sit there as per protocol,” he said.

As chairman of the committee, he was asked to occupy one of the chairs. However, he suggested that MLA Narendra Patil, who heads a state corporation, could also sit there.

Ms. Kulkarni claimed that BJP MLA Abhimanyu Pawar also wanted to sit in the front row and this led to some confusion. As he was about to sit on the seat, officials informed him that his name came up according to the protocol order. He claimed that Mr. Pawar then told him, “This is a program of the Maratha community. If you sit here, it will create controversy.”

Speaking to reporters later, Ms. Kulkarni said that the event was organized to honor meritorious students from the Maratha community but it was still a government program for which seating had to be decided as per official protocol. “Seats are not arranged on the basis of caste,” he said.

The BJP MP said he has always encouraged people to identify themselves as Hindu rather than caste. “Where does the caste issue fit into this?” he asked.

Recalling the Assembly election campaign, Ms. Kulkarni claimed that Mr. Pawar had invited her to address a meeting of the Brahmin community to support his candidacy despite her poor health.

“I appealed to the Brahmin community to support Abhimanyu Pawar. They voted for him. There was no caste issue then. We should stand behind the ideology. There are many challenges ahead for the country. What is the point of raising caste issues among us?” said the BJP MP.

Ms. Kulkarni also alleged that before the start of the programme, when the Prime Minister was meeting visitors in the VIP lounge, Mr. Pawar objected to members of the Maratha community accompanying him from entering the hall. “I had gone to meet the Chief Minister regarding a local issue. He was aware of the issue and spoke to them politely, assuring them of justice. Will you (Mr. Pawar) decide to whom Mr. Fadnavis should speak?” he asked.

Responding to the allegations, Mr. Pawar denied that caste had anything to do with the seating arrangement. “I only told him that Anna Bhau Sathe Aarthik Vikas Mahamandal president Narendra Patil will sit in the front row, while legislators and MPs will sit in the back rows. There is no caste issue,” he said.

Expressing regret that his words had hurt Ms. Kulkarni, Mr. Pawar said, “The program does not belong to my family. She is an MP and senior to me, like my sister. If I have hurt her, I express my regret.”

Ms. Kulkarni later said she would not pursue the matter further. “I have forgiven Abhimanyu ji and will not file any complaint against him. I only expect him to introspect,” he said.