BJP vying for second seat in MLC polls

The BJP is vying for a second seat in Mumbai local body constituency for MLC elections scheduled on December 27 as the party will need an additional 46 votes. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena candidate and minister for environment Ramdas Kadam will be easily elected with the support of Sena’s own 88 votes including supporters. On the other hand, Congress-NCP candidate Ashok Jagtap will have to depend upon the Samajwadi party and PWP for his win.

The eight members elected from various local bodies to the Upper House will retire on January 1, 2016, and the Election Commission (EC) is holding elections on December 27. Counting will be on Dec. 30.

Congress and NCP, as well as BJP and Sena, will contest elections jointly with their allies. NCP state president Sunil Tatkare said Congress will contest four seats whereas NCP will contest three seats. “In Mumbai’s local body constituency, the tally of Sena legislators is enough and hence, Sena candidate will win the seat easily. Second candidate will be Congress’ sitting legislator Jagtap and there is no possibility for a third candidate to win. Hence, we have decided to contest only seven seats,” said Mr Tatkare.

Mr Jagtap and Mr Kadam filed their nominations on Monday. BJP legislator Manoj Kotak too purchased the nomination form from the election branch. The last date for filing nominations is Wednesday, December 9. Meanwhile, according to officials from the state EC, to win in the Mumbai local body constituency, the candidate requires a quota of 76.66 (approximately 77).

Sena has its own 75 legislators and has the support of 13 corporators and thus, its tally reaches 88. Congress and NCP have 51 and 14 corporators, respectively. Congress-NCP will need 10 more votes and they will depend upon eight legislators of the Samajwadi Party and three independents. If BJP contests a third seat, it will require 48 votes. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which has 28 corporators, has not yet opened its cards. Meanwhile, Mr Tatkare also announced names of candidates for the elections. “Sitting legislator Ashok Kaka Jagtap will contest from Ahmednagar, Deepak Salunkhe from Solapur, while the candidate for Akola-Washim will be announced on Tuesday,” he said.