BJP demands 100 BMC seats from Shiv Sena

Having tasted success in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in 2014, the BJP is all set to demand 100 seats from Shiv Sena for the civic polls, which are scheduled for February 2017.

Update: 2016-08-27 19:48 GMT
Vivekanand Gupta

Having tasted success in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in 2014, the BJP is all set to demand 100 seats from Shiv Sena for the civic polls, which are scheduled for February 2017. The demand might widen the existing rift between the allies, as the Sena cannot afford to give about 50 per cent of the seats to the BJP in the 227-member House, as it fears it would lose its dominance.

Though both parties are working on all the 227 seats of the BMC, highly placed sources in the BJP said that they would demand 100 seats from Sena. “The BJP has 15 MLAs in Mumbai. Each MLA constituency has almost six BMC wards, which translates to 90 seats. Also, there are many pockets in the city where it can win the polls. The BJP leadership is of the opinion that this time 100 seats should be demanded from the Sena,” the sources said.

However, both parties are tight-lipped about the demand and seat-sharing pact. According to the poll deal, among three parties in 2012, the Shiv Sena had contested 135 seats, while the BJP and the RPI fought in 63 and 29 wards,respectively.

The BJP and Sena are yet to hold their first meeting for the BMC polls, but both the parties have started preparations. “We are strengthening the organisation and gearing up activists at the booth level. It is too early to disclose how many seats we will be contesting. However, we are preparing for all the 227 seats because anything can happen last minute,” Mumbai BJP secretary advocate Vivekanand Gupta said.

The BJP is wooing all the voters by organising various programmes and celebrating festivals. “On September 2, we will organise Uttar Bhartiya Mela at Goregaon where chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will be participating. There are more programmes planned for coming days,” Mr Gupta said.

The BJP has 31 corporators in the BMC at present and Shiv Sena 75. However, after the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, the BJP emerged as the ‘big brother’ of the Sena. It is leading the government at both the Centre and the state and hence, the expectations from the workers are high this time.

However, Sena leaders have declined to comment on the issue. “We are preparing for all 228 seats. Uddhav Thackeray has also made it clear in our party rally held in June at Goregaon that the party should prepare to go solo. Uddhavji had even said that he would go solo for the BMC poll and would not compromise over ‘unreasonable’ demands,” a Sena leader who declined to be named said. The leader also added that the party chief had told party workers not to discuss the BMC elections with anyone at the moment.

Sources in the Sena said party workers wanted the party to contest the elections separately after the BJP severed the alliance in the last minute during the Assembly polls. “The bitter experience has taught us a lesson, and this time we are prepared to go solo,” the sources said.

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