Congress-NCP (42 seats) and BJP-Sena (43 seats) are eyeing the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (3 seats) to gain majority in the corporation
Although he failed to make an impact in the Mumbai elections, Hitendra Thakur of Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) has managed to stand out this time.
Most valuable player: Hitendra Thakur (left), who managed to secure three seats in the Mira-Bhayander municipal elections, is in talks with both parties and is yet to announce his decision. File pic
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During the Mumbai municipal elections earlier this year, Thakur’s party had fielded a candidate for the first time in Mumbai but didn’t win a single seat. However, the recently held Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) elections have made him the kingmaker with only three seats.
According to the results announced on Monday, the BJP won 29 seats, while the NCP won 23. The Congress and Shiv Sena won 19 and 14 respectively, whereas the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) won only one seat. Now the BJP is eyeing an alliance with BVA, as well as the MNS. Similarly, the NCP is trying its luck with BVA. However, Thakur is non-committal whether he would go with BJP or the NCP.
Thakur said, “I am yet to decide who to support and we are holding meetings within the party. In the coming days I will decide upon what to do.”
There are 95 seats in total and the figure needed for majority is 48. Neither the BJP-Sena alliance with 43 seats, nor NCP-Congress with 42 seats have the majority. Now the ball is in BVA’s court. “Whomsoever the BVA and MNS decides to support would assume power in the corporation.
BJP is in constant touch with our leaders, however, we haven’t decided upon what has to be finalised,” said Pravin Rai, the assembly president from Mira-Bhayander.
Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik, who is overseeing the MBMC election for the party said, “We are in talks with BVA for support and we are sure that we will come to power.
The Congress and NCP have been rejected by the people since they haven’t done any work in so many years. Let the dates be decided for the election of mayor, the mayor will be from our alliance only.”
Meanwhile, NCP’s local MLA Gilbert Mendonca was unavailable for a comment, as was BJP’s chief from the area, Mahendra Mehta. However, a senior BJP MLA looking after the elections of MBMC said, “We are sure that the mayor will be one of ours, as our leaders in Mira-Bhayander are working hard and the results have turned in our favour,” he said. u00a0
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