Mumbai: Shiv Sena’s move to induct six corporators of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) into its fold is going to pay rich dividends while ruling the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). With the increase in its strength, it can now afford to no longer rely on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for taking key decisions in the civic body.
With the entry of six MNS corporators, Shiv Sena’s strength in the BMC has increased from 84 to 90. This will lead to increase in party’s presence in various civic statutory and special committees by at least one. This is likely to benefit the party when it comes to passing major proposals, especially in important committees like standing and improvements.
As there was earlier hardly a difference between Sena and BJP’s seats, both the parties had same representation in civic committees. But with the induction of six defected corporators, Sena’s strength will surpass BJP’s.
“Though the BJP had publicly announced that it will support us, we could not rely on it. Since our strength has increased, it will enable us to decide on our own,” said a senior Sena leader.
The defectors are likely to be named to several civic committees by Sena. “However, for Sena to accommodate them, they will have to first resign from these committees as MNS members. Then only can Sena appoint them as its party corporators,” said a senior civic official.
Meanwhile, MNS leaders on Monday met Konkan divisional commissioner officials urging them not to register the defectors as a group. “We have been told that there is no formation of any group as yet. We have requested to them to consider all legal aspects before taking any decision in this regard,” said MNS leader Avinash Abhyankar.
However, Sena has rubbished their claims saying these corporators have not formed a separate group but instead they have been merged into the party. “They have directly joined our party. So there is no question of forming any group,” said Sena group leader Yashwant Jadhav.
