Mumbai: Though the Shiv Sena has claimed that it has completed all legal formalities for the admission of six corporators from the Maharahstra Navnirman Sena (MNS), the Sena will have to submit fresh affidavits to the Konkan divisional commissioner to reaffirm the corporators’ support to their newly joined party. To safeguard itself against any sabotage bid, the Sena has taken all its corporators to an unknown place, it is learnt.
According to sources from Konkan divisional commissioner’s office, the registration of the defected corporators has not been done yet. Their fate will be sealed only after the commissioner holds a hearing on the complaint filed by the MNS.
“We have just received letter from these corporators asking for registration for a separate group. But the registration process has not been completed yet. All Shiv Sena corporators will have to submit a fresh affidavit, if these corporators have joined their party. But if they have formed a separate group, they will have to submit a separate affidavit stating their intent,” said a senior official from the Konkan divisional commission.
In a bid to prevent a split in the party, MNS general secretary Shirish Sawant on Friday had written a letter to the Konkan divisional commissioner demanding that he should not recognise the new group. “There are some political parties that are trying to encourage our corporators to form a separate group by offering bribes and temptations. Democratic values are damaged due to such malpractices. Before taking any decision in this regard, we should be called for discussion,” Mr Sawant said.
Meanwhile, after losing six of its corporators, the MNS is also set to lose its party office in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters.
In the BMC, any party having a minimum of five corporators is given a post of a group leader and also a party office in the head office.
In the BMC general elections held early this year, the MNS had managed to win seven seats and was accordingly given a party office on the first floor of the annexe building of BMC headquarters.
However, with only one corporator now remaining with the party, it would be difficult to provide an office to the party. After the legal formalities are completed at the Konkan divisional commission, the MNS’ office space will be taken back by the BMC, said civic officials.
