Cong, UBT members start hunger strike outside KMC bldg

Kolhapur: Corporators and activists from the Indian National Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) staged a symbolic chain hunger strike outside the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) building on Thursday, protesting the delay in approval of service regulations required to finalise the civic body's organisational structure.Leader of Opposition Rajesh Latkar said, "The recruitment process for vacant posts was stalled due to the pending service regulations. Consequently, citizens are bearing the brunt of the resulting inconveniences." He added, "While the elections for the City Street Vendors Committee already took place, the official gazette notification regarding its members was not yet issued. Both these proposals gathered dust at the Urban Development Department for the past two years."Mayor Ruparani Nikam said minister Chandrakant Patil assured the issue would be resolved within a month, citing the ongoing legislative session.Following the assurance, the Congress called off the strike and said it would decide its next course of agitation after a month.