Daijiworld Media Network – Solapur

Solapur, Jan 20: With the Solapur Municipal Corporation elections and other local body polls approaching, the political atmosphere in the district has heated up considerably. A sharp war of words has erupted between Congress MP Praniti Shinde and BJP’s guardian minister Jaykumar Gore, with both leaders sparing no opportunity to target each other.

Responding to Gore’s recent criticism, Praniti Shinde launched a scathing attack, terming him an “opportunist”. She said, “Jaykumar Gore was originally a Congressman, which is why he must have read my letter addressed to Congress workers. He later fell prey to the allure of the BJP and joined the party. Solapur is a cultured city, and outsiders should not come here and lower its political standards. Power has gone to the heads of some people.”

Hitting back, Gore took a direct swipe at Praniti Shinde by invoking the legacy of her father, former Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde. “Sushilkumar Shinde spent his entire life strengthening the Congress and nurturing many leaders. However, Praniti Shinde has weakened the Congress. When party workers needed her, she abandoned them. She seems satisfied with just two corporators getting elected and is now criticising the BJP, which has 87 corporators,” Gore said.

Taking further digs, Gore referred to Praniti Shinde’s earlier remarks made in a respectful tone towards him. “She initially spoke about me with great respect, so it is natural that my response has affected her. Learn to respect others first; only then will you earn respect. Don’t force me to speak about the ‘opportunism’ she displayed in the Lok Sabha,” he warned.

Meanwhile, Praniti Shinde also outlined her party’s strategy for the upcoming local body elections. She said that wherever possible, the Congress would contest the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. “No matter how much the BJP resorts to tactics like influence, money power or EVMs, the Congress will fight with full strength to defeat them and give them a tough fight,” she asserted.

The ongoing spat between the two leaders has sparked intense discussions in Solapur’s political circles. With growing rural resentment and changing urban voting patterns, the confrontation between the Congress and the BJP is expected to intensify further in the run-up to the elections.