BJP councillor and civic chief argue over drainage issues

In Vadodara, a municipal meeting became tense as BJP councillor Ashish Joshi and municipal commissioner Dilip Rana clashed over drainage problems in Joshi's ward. The meeting, held on Monday, saw Joshi express frustration about local issues related to drainage, particularly after recent floods. Joshi represents ward 15 and raised important concerns about overflowing stormwater drains. He criticized Rana for not visiting the affected areas, despite previous assurances. Joshi stated that the drainage issue seemed simple to fix, as it mainly required cleaning and did not necessarily need a lengthy process. During the meeting, tensions escalated between the two officials. Joshi urged Rana to take action, while Rana defended himself against Joshi’s accusations. Afterward, Rana spoke to reporters, saying Joshi was inappropriate and should not have mentioned the chief minister. He indicated that he would report the confrontation to the CM's office. In an effort to resolve the situation, other councillors tried to mediate, though the atmosphere remained charged. Later that evening, Mayor Pinky Soni visited the areas impacted by the drainage issues and instructed officials to clean the blocked drains promptly.