Shiv Sena looking to woo two Independents

Mumbai: Intending to have more corporators that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and get the mayor’s post in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Shiv Sena is trying to woo two more Independent corporators to increase its tally to 90. At present the Sena has 84 corporators of its own and four independents. The two independents that the Sena is trying to get into its party fold are Bandra MLA Mumtaz Khan and Akhil Bhartiya Sena MLA Geeta Gawli.

A Sena leader said that the party is pursuing two more Independent corporators who would increase the party’s total number to get the mayor’s post. “The BJP has 82 and one Independent corporator. We have so far managed 88 corporators and soon get two more. It will make the tally 90,” the leader said.

Ms Khan, wife of former All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Raja Rahbar Khan, initially agreed to go with Shiv Sena but later refused to join officially. It was said that she was in touch with BJP and the party was counting on her to increase its tally. The sources in the Sena said that she is bargaining hard with the party.

On the other hand, the Sena is also trying to woo Ms Gawli who is keeping her cards close to her ches. In the current political scenario, every single corporator has become important. The Sena therefore got the party corporators registered on Tuesday to avoid any defection during voting. Now, it will be compulsory for the corporators to follow the party whip and vote for the party’s mayor candidate.

The mayor’s election is likely to be held on March 8 in the BMC when Sena will field its candidate. BJP and Congress are also likely to have their own candidates, sources said.