All eyes on civic body polls to check impact of note ban on BJP

Mumbai: The New Year has brought with exciting times for all political parties in the state as 10 municipal corporation and 26 zilla parishads would be going for polls in February. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls are important for the Shiv Sena, BJP and Congress, as it is the biggest civic body in the country. The Congress has declared that it would go alone for the polls, however, while the Shiv Sena and BJP are yet to decide on their alliance.

In the local body polls held last year, the BJP emerged as the number one party. It was predicted that the demonetisation decision might affect the prospects of the BJP, but the party still managed to garner more seats than any other party.

Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam, however, said: “Demonetisation would have an impact on the BJP this time. The unorganised sector is in trouble. The banking system is also disturbed. There is uncertainty over the financial resources of the people in the city as well. We are sure that our number of seats would increase in the upcoming BMC polls.”

However, BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said the whole country has appreciated the party’s development agenda. “In any polls, our emphasis has remained on development. The people have supported this agenda in all the polls. We will have the same agenda in the BMC polls as well. Also, the people have faith in Narendra Modiji and his demonetisation decision. We are confident about the upcoming polls,” he said.

The polls are also important for the Shiv Sena, which has been ruling the civic body for 20 years. Retaining it for another five years would be a challenge. The BMC polls will clearly indicate in whose hands the financial capital of the country will remain.

Shaky ground:
All is not smooth between the Shiv Sena and BJP, though both parties are sharing power at the Centre and at the state. The Congress and NCP have already parted ways for the BMC polls. But the fate of the saffron alliance is still under wraps. After the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in 2014, the BJP emerged as the biggest party. The BJP would definitely be highhanded about seat sharing if both the parties opt for an alliance. Also, the BJP would like to call the shots in the BMC, which is with the Sena at present.

Poll places:
10 municipal corporations — Mumbai, Thane, Ulhasnagar, Nashik, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Amaravati, Akola and Nagpur — would go for polls in February.