BJP does not claims to fight the Mumbai Mayor’s election as they lack the numbers
MUMBAI| On Monday BJP Minister Ashish Shelar cleared the talk will BJP alliance continues with ShivSena in the upcoming Mayor election saying BJP will not contest Mumbai Mayor elections as it doesn’t have the numbers.
Ashish Shelar said, “BJP will not contest Mumbai Mayor elections as it doesn’t have the numbers. BJP doesn’t want to have an alliance with any opposition party. In 2022, the party will have the numbers on its own”.
BJP leader Ashish Shelar: BJP will not contest Mumbai Mayor elections as it doesn't have the numbers. BJP doesn't want to have an alliance with any opposition party. In 2022, the party will have the numbers on its own. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/UFvMAmN4z4
— ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2019
Monday is the last day to file nominations for the mayoral elections of the civic body. ShivSena has dominated the BMC for over two decades with whom it shared the post of deputy mayor several times. There is a high chance that Sena could face a drop in number as they do not continue with the alliance post the assembly election. The election for the mayor’s post is scheduled on November 22.
The ShivSena will remain in the race and contest for the post of mayor afresh and NCP will file nomination for deputy mayor.
BJP leader in the BMC and MP Manoj Kotak said his party will not contest for the mayor’s post. “We currently don’t have the numbers. We are sure in the 2022 election, we will secure the mayor’s post”.
On whether BJP will vote in favour of Sena candidate in the mayoral election, he said, “Our party high command will take a decision at the right time.”
If the ongoing talks between ShivSena and NCP-Congress succeed at the state level, the Sena will help the parties get the post of deputy mayor.
The meeting between the NCP-Congress chief heads is scheduled today in Delhi. A decision on helping the Sena for the mayor’s post and seeking their help to win the deputy mayor’s post will be taken then Senior Congress Corporator and opposition leader in the BMC Ravi Raja said, “Our party corporators had a meeting with the city Congress president on Sunday and we passed a resolution urging our party chief (Sonia Gandhi) to take decision on our behalf”.
Also Read: “I travel everyday in Mumbai, show me one single pothole”, says a BMC chairman
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “Our party Corporator Manish Rahate will file a nomination form for the post of deputy mayor on Monday”.
The ShivSena has 94 corporators in the 227-member BMC, followed by BJP with 82, Congress 28 and NCP nine. Corporators are not ruling out the possibility of poaching. “Someone approached me, asking me to help BJP in the mayor’s election,” alleged Ravi Raja, Congress Corporator.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
