As the worst snowfall in decades paralyzed life in Istanbul and crippled its links to the outside world, the government and opposition-held municipality exchanged barbs on just who was to blame and lauded their own efforts. Meanwhile, television channels and social media showed footage of stranded cars and trucks along highways in Turkey’s largest city.

Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul’s social democrat mayor and a potential candidate against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming presidential elections, was the main target of the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) salvos. Opinion polls consistently suggest that he would beat Erdogan in the race that is scheduled to be held in 2023.

Betul Sayan Kaya, the Istanbul deputy of the AKP, posted a photo on social media of Imamoglu entering a restaurant, claiming that the mayor was “enjoying dinner at a fish restaurant” while women, the elderly and children were out in the cold. “The roads are gridlocked, transportation is paralyzed and there is no snow clearing. … Imamoglu and his team made Istanbul residents miserable. Fortunately, our ministers and teams are helping the people out,” she tweeted. It emerged that Imamoglu had dinner with UK Ambassador to Turkey Dominick Chillcott. The dinner was cut short when he returned to join the snow-control efforts hindered by rush hour traffic.

“We are doing our best to ease the difficulties of the residents and to coordinate with all related parties,” a tired-looking Imamoglu said at a press conference Tuesday morning. He shifted the blame to the Transport Ministry, saying it was the central government’s responsibility to keep roads open and free of snow.