A couple of moves by the Congress created turbulence in the state’s political sphere on Thursday. A day after its party ministers endorsed the multi-member civic ward system, the Maharashtra Congress unit opposed the restructuring by passing a resolution in its state executive meeting. The Congress also upset its ruling partners by approaching the Bharatiya Janata Party with a proposal that the BJP withdraw its candidate in the October 4 Rajya Sabha bypoll to facilitate a Congress nominee’s win.

The protest against the government decision indicated that either the Congress ministers did not force their way in the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday or they did not endorse the party organisation’s demand for a one-member/two-member civic ward structure. Some senior ministers, who had participated in the Cabinet meeting, were present in Thursday’s party executive meeting that was chaired by state unit president Nana Patole, who tabled a resolution demanding a two-member civic ward.