Shiv Sena-BJP union perturbs BMC poll aspirants

Not many in the BJP are happy with the recent tie-up between Shiv Sena and BJP to contest 212 nagar panchayat polls scheduled to be held from November. Many BJP ticket aspirants for Sena-held seats fear that during the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections the two parties might tie up again. They said the official stand was that leaders of both parties want an alliance.

On Thursday late in the evening, Shiv Sena’s Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut along with BJP’s state president Raosaheb Danve held a press conference announcing that both the parties have decided to contest panchayat polls together. Till Wednesday reports had suggested that Shiv Sena in a meeting with its party’s leaders had decided to go solo in elections.

A senior leader from the BJP who did not wish to be named said, “There were many in the party who were eyeing the seats in their wards which belonged to Sena. Also, for a long time the BJP and Sena have been insinuating that they will go solo for all future polls. Sena’s aggressive stand in the last couple of weeks had raised hopes for those in BJP who were coveting seats currently held by Sena.”

The leader said he had got many calls from aspirants that they were scared if the parties join hands for the polls, they might not get the chance to contest elections.

BJP Mumbai’s chief spokesperson Niranjan Shetty said: “Our leaders are of the belief that we should go together. Currently, there is no decision on coalition. The CM and the president will take a call on the same.”