Defections to worsen as BMC poll nears

Former Congress corporator Bablu Barudgar Aziz (third from right) with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray after joining the Sena on Saturday

While there are still four months to go for civic elections, the ‘Aaya Ram Gaya Ram’ fever has already gripped the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). In the last couple of days, two current and former corporators have switched their loyalties to other parties, indicating that the trend will grow further once the poll date nears.

On Saturday, the Congress suffered a jolt when former corporator Bablu Barudgar Aziz from Juhu joined the Shiv Sena along with a large number of Muslim community people. He was welcomed into the party by none other than Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. Mr Barudgar was considered as close aid of senior Congress leader Gurudas Kamat. He has been reportedly given an assurance from Sena of a ticket for the civic polls, which will be held in February next year.

Sena corporator Sandhya Yadav from Andheri ward no 71 on Thursday had joined the BJP at the party’s women conclave in Jogeshwari in the presence of city party chief Ashish Shelar.

Ms Yadav represents Gundavali gaothan in Andheri (west). Her move was on expected lines as her husband Sunil Yadav had contested the Vidhan Sabha elections from Andheri (east) on the BJP ticket. Though Mr Yadav lost to Sena candidate Ramesh Latke, his wife was accused of ditching her party and campaigning for the BJP.

According to sources, there are several current and former corporators that are likely to quit their parties and shift their allegiance to other parties before elections. As ruling parties Shiv Sena and BJP are likely to contest separately, several corporators have already started making a beeline for them. Ms Yadav’s move has indicated that even Sena and BJP will be poaching each other’s corporators for the civic polls.

The trend is likely to intensify once the demarcation of BMC wards takes place next month. The BMC has begun the process of formation and reservation of 227 municipal wards for the civic polls. A crucial lottery draw for the reservation of different categories will be held on October 3.