BJP is Mumbai’s new Sena

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, February 23

Elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have thrown up a hung House with allies-turned-foes Shiv Sena and the BJP running neck and neck even as other cities in Maharashtra continue to be under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s spell.

Of the 227 seats, the Shiv Sena bagged 84, BJP 82 and the Congress 31. Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena could barely register its presence with seven seats, while Sharad Pawar’s NCP eked out just nine seats. 

After trailing behind the Shiv Sena through the day, a late afternoon surge saw the tide turn in favour of the BJP.  “Some smaller parties are already extending support to the BJP,” aides of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.

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Celebrations in the Sena camp went subdued as soon as it became evident that the party would not be able to govern Mumbai without its allies. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray had broken alliance with the BJP ahead of the civic poll, besides putting the state government on notice.

Elsewhere in Maharashtra, the BJP continued its stellar performance. It is all set to take control of Nagpur, Pune, Nashik, Ulhasnagar, Akola, Nagpur and Amravati of the 10 corporations where elections were held. The Shiv Sena is set to retain Thane, while the NCP was giving a tough fight to the BJP in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The results have caused tremors in the Congress after its tally in the BMC dipped to 31 seats from 52 in 2012. Sanjay Nirupam tendered his resignation as Mumbai Congress Committee chief and said the party would not support the Sena or the BJP.

Yet to decide on alliance: Fadnavis

Whether or not to go for an alliance will be decided when I, (Maharashtra BJP president) Raosaheb Danve, (Mumbai BJP chief) Ashish Shelar sit and look at the prevailing situation. —Devendra Fadnavis, M’rashtra CM

BJP a pan-India party now: Jaitley

The first message of these elections is that BJP has become a pan-India party which is now fast spreading its roots even in eastern and southern states. Karnataka poll will reassert this.  —Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister