SMSes field Shiv Sena men in all BMC wards

Mumbai: After Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar’s claim that the party has sent a list of 227 candidates to the chief minister, Shiv Sena too has upped its ante with local leaders circulating messages that all BMC wards will have Sena candidates. Both parties are vying for the mayoral position in BMC.

During an event held on December 25 at Elphinstone, Mr Shelar announced that the mayor in BMC would belong to BJP. This was followed by Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday announcing that the mayor would be from his party. Then came the BJP survey report saying that the party could win 130 seats if it went solo. Sena got all worked up with all of this and local leaders claimed that they had been told by their seniors to start working on all 227 seats.

“Messages are being circulated to all leaders and workers that they have to start working on all seats as we will have candidates for them. Work has already begun,” said a local leader from the central suburbs. Sena leaders have even started work on the posters to be prepared. Meanwhile, BJP has claimed that it is ready to go solo. “Our leader has already said that a list of 227 candidates is ready; this clearly shows our intent of going solo. However, the decision is in the hands of the CM,” said a BJP leader.