BJP,Sena demand Kalmadi’s resignation as city MP

“The Commonwealth Games has exposed Kalmadi’s real face. There is a need to carry out inquiry into the dealings for Commonwealth Youth Games that were held in the city in 2008 and also the annual international marathon events,” said BJP MLA Madhuri Misal.

Later in the evening,the Shiv Sena took out a morcha from the same location to Kalmadi’s house and burnt his effigy before being prevented by the city police to move further. Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe said corruption charges against Kalmadi led organising committee of Commonwealth Games have brought shame to the city.

“The ongoing expose of corruption about the Commonwealth Games has hit the party hard. After getting squarely beaten in the previous civic polls,the city Congress was gearing up to regain supremacy in the Pune Municipal Corporation in 2012 elections. However,it will now take time for the party workers to come out of the current mess and go with a brave face before the voters,” a senior Congress leader said.

Congress leader Anant Gadgil said,“I was the first person to revolt against Kalmadi but was ridiculed everytime. I don’t want to speak anything now,it is up to the party high command to decide.” The image of the party has got a beating due to the entire issue,he said,adding,“The party needs to look for a person with a clean image to retain its hold in the city.”

City Congress chief Abhay Chhajed,however,said the city unit of the party was behind their leader as they were confident that he would come clean of all the allegations. “The Opposition parties see this as an opportunity to take political mileage but they won’t succeed. The Shiv Sena and BJP had made similar efforts to spoil the Commonwealth Youth Games as well,” he said.