This was a battle between politicians that was not fought on an electoral turf, but was all fists and fury on hard ground. An inauguration event at Airoli turned into a war zone between Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena corporators on Friday.

The Rabale police have registered cross first information reports, with the NCP alleging attempt to murder and assault, and the Sena in turn alleging assault and molestation. “As per the allegations from both sides, we have registered cases. After verifying the video footage of the incident, we will make the necessary changes in the sections applied to both cases,” Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone I, said.

On Friday, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation had scheduled eight inaugurations, with NCP MLA Sandeep Naik and Sena MP Rajan Vichare as chief guests. The inauguration was to be done by Mayor Jayawant Sutar, who belongs to the NCP.

The first inauguration was to be that of the Jankibai Krishna Madhvi wedding hall at Sector 15 in Airoli, at 10.30 a.m. Mr. Naik said that after cutting the ribbon, they went to the first floor, where there was a Shivaji statue. The Mayor garlanded it, but just then, Sena corporator from Airoli, M.K. Madhvi, allegedly closed in on them. “He threatened us. On or way down, he shouted out to his party men to hit us. But my body guard and party workers stopped them and later, we entered my car,” Mr. Sutar said.

The Sena men, who were still holding the pair of scissors used for the ribbon-cutting, produced iron rods as well and allegedly attacked the car, damaging it. “Since they had the rods with them, I suspect the attack was pre-planned,” Mr. Sutar said.

Mr. Madhvi had his own version of the events. “The hall has been ready for the past six months, but Mr. Sutar had not been giving us a date for the inauguration as the hall has my mother’s name and is in my ward.” The invitation card also mentioned Mr. Vichare’s name, and Mr. Madhvi therefore requested Mr. Sutar and Mr. Naik to wait till he reached the venue. But they allegedly went ahead with the inauguration. He also alleged that Mr. Naik played rough with his wife. “During the fight, Mr. Naik tugged at my wife’s saree and we have given a complaint about this.”

Mr. Naik, on his part, justified going ahead with the inauguration. He said the inauguration was scheduled for 10.30 a.m. and there were three more lined up before 11.30 a.m.

Mr. Vichare said the NCP staged the fight, out of spite. “The NCP has always created problems in functions important to our party. They delay our projects as well as approval of our files.”