The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has scheduled a meeting at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi on Sunday, starting at 10am. Top BJP leaders will attend the convention, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. According to Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, around 5,300 delegates are expected, with Gadkari addressing the first session and Shah the second.
Given the saffron party's subpar performance in the state during the Lok Sabha elections, this convention holds particular significance ahead of the Assembly polls. From 23 seats in 2019, the party managed to win only nine in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.
Ahead of Sunday's convention, posters of BJP leaders have appeared across the city, sparking outrage among Punekars on social media.
Pune Platform for Collaborative Response, a volunteer group of prominent business, industry, and start-up leaders, posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing these posters, writing, "It's baffling that in today's digital age, politicians still rely on #flexes for self-marketing. They're outdated, illegal, and unsafe, cluttering our cities and posing risks. Politicians must take responsibility, adapt to modern methods, and prioritise public safety."
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Commenting on this post, X users questioned the legality of these banners.
"@PMCPune does not have the guts to collect penalties from these antisocial elements," said one user.
"These hoardings should be banned. Unsafe for drivers and aesthetically displeasing," wrote another user.
"There’s the issue of the flexes being illegal, but also the aesthetic impact—flex hoardings make the city look unattractive, which is contrary to Pune's goal of becoming a smart city. Most importantly, these flexes are a safety hazard," commented a third user.
Check out the reactions below:
