When asked about factionalism in the Congress party in the wake of protests against him on the eve of the appointment of Prasad Kedari as Vice Chairman of Pune Cantonment Board on June 28 he said "We are the majority in PCB as we have seven out of eight members on our side. Only one person was angry about the decision about Prasad Kedari being made vice president of PCB. But, now even he has understood. Also, there is no factionalism in the party in the PCB or PMC," "The protests must have been done by supporters of one member but I understand their feelings" he added.

Infighting in the Congress came to its fore on June 28 when a group of persons, suspected to be supporters of former PCB vice president Gautam Mahajan of the Congress party, shouted slogans against Lok Sabha MP Suresh Kalmadi inside the PCB premises. The protests were held following the announcement of Prasad Kedari of the Congress as the new vice president of PCB. Also, supporters of other contenders shouted slogans against him.