BMC polls: Uddhav’s first election rally a ‘subh’ choice

Mumbai: The reason Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s first rally for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls will be held on Saturday at Charni Road is because of a belief within the party that the place is auspicious for Sena. Even in the last BMC elections, Sena started its campaign from Girgaon. However, this time the party has ventured a bit further to Chira Bazaar, instead of Thakurdwar like last time, which is because of the Gujarati votes that Sena is eyeing.

Pandurang Sakpal, Shiv Sena’s head in South Mumbai, said even in the previous BMC elections, Sena’s campaign started from Thakurdwar area, which is very close to Chira Bazaar. 

Mr Sakpal said,  “This place is subh (auspicious) for us, from here we start and then we will win the whole of Mumbai.”

Party leaders claim that by launching the campaign at Chira Bazaar, two aims will be achieved: first, the area is close to Girgaon — a strong Marathi belt — and second, it is also within the Gujarati belt of Mumbai. 

Sena has been eyeing the Gujarati vote bank, which has been loyal to BJP during the last two elections. In the last two weeks, leaders from the Gujarati community from Congress, NCP and even BJP have joined Sena’s fold and the party has been boasting about it. Sena’s internal team had made a huge list of Gujarati voters and was carrying out surveys on how to win Gujarati votes. 

“Post demonetisation, many Gujaratis are upset and they are looking for an option, which we are trying to be,” said a senior leader from the party.