The civic officials failed to attend a meeting called by the Mayor for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. While speaking to newspersons, the Mayor claimed that the civic body officials did not attend the meeting due to written instructions issued by Bhatia on Tuesday that no officer would attend the meeting without his written permission.

In the wake of these developments, Bhatia's style of functioning is likely to be discussed in the general body meeting of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) which is scheduled to start tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Mayor today expressed strong concern about PMC officials' failure to attend the meetings called by him. He said he had called a meeting with road department chief P T Pawar and other officials concerned to discuss the progress of road repairs at 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday.

While claiming that the agenda of the meeting was clearly stated in a letter sent to Pawar by his office four days ago, the Mayor said he had to cancel the meeting as Pawar and the other civic officials concerned did not turn up.

The Mayor had criticised Bhatia's style of functioning on Tuesday.

Gaikwad had said that Bhatia's instructions, which prevented the officers from attending a meeting without his written permission, was a humiliation of the mayoral post.

The meeting of the standing committee, which was expected to take a decision on the crucial proposal of budgetary changes on Tuesday, was also adjourned expressing displeasure over Bhatia's absence.