Mumbai: BMC poll-itics to usher in 2017

The year 2017 is sure to begin with a bang mdash parties campaigning for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election in Mumbai and 11 other major cities across Maharashtra The civic body has been a powerhouse for the ruling combine especially the Shiv Sena and hence the small partner in the twodecadeold regime the BJP is going all out to snatch power from its saffron allyCongress resurging but still very weakThe Congress had an unexpected run in the recently held civic polls when it finished second to the BJP The results have enthused party workers who think that a free hand and fair selection of candidates could help to revive the partyThe Congress has decided to snap ties with the NCP for the BMC polls Representational picBut now in Mumbai the number of aspirants has increased dramatically because of the latest poll results but workers fear that intense factionalism and leadership issues would impact the party againAlso the party has decided to snap ties with the NCP for the BMC polls as the latter doesnrsquot have a solid base in the metroPact impossibleAfter breaking away from the Sena just before the 2014 assembly polls the BJP has gone on to become even stronger It formed the government and then successfully sought Senarsquos support to consolidate their hold The role reversal has raised the partyrsquos morale higher with the Sena buckling under pressure oftenThe BJP has taken the lead in announcing that the next mayor would be its candidate Representational picWill the Sena ally with the BJP keeping its own interest aside Will it agree for an equitable share for the BJP in a prepoll alliance or will the two go their separate waysAt this point the two seem to be headed for independent fights The BJP has taken the lead in announcing that the next mayor would be its candidate Sources said BJP cadre isnrsquot wiling for a pact with the Sena primarily because the party has won civic polls in the semiurban region despite the demonetisation move It expects Mumbai to respond positively to the scheme as the Prime Minister has himself assured the city that the honest would not suffer anymoreThe BJP is banking on Marathi and nonMarathi votes to score over its allycumrivalBrash Rajrsquos MNS is no longer a menaceCall it superstition but the Raj Thackerayled party has got poll authorities to alter the design of its election symbol mdash steam engine mdash because of its downfall in the past five years The ballot will now have MNSrsquos engine moving in from the other directionPolitical pundits donrsquot foresee the MNS doing a repeat of its 2012 show in the BMC Representational picBut a popular perception is that the MNS has lost steam Political pundits donrsquot foresee the party doing a repeat of its 2012 show in the BMC It is unlikely to go officially with any party though it may have unofficial arrangements with a party of its choiceSena is playing its own gameThe Sena knows that going with the BJP would mean sacrificing a lot The BMC has kept the Senarsquos heart beating the party canrsquot easily give its lifeline up to the BJP So what will it do then It can insist for a better deal or simply say no to an allianceThe Sena can insist that BJP gives it a better deal or it can simply say no to an alliance Representational picIf itrsquos the latter the two will go their own ways and come back to the table after the election to form a government The numbers will decide who gets whatIn the meantime the Sena is working fulltime to find suitable candidates for all 227 wards The BJP on the other hand seems to have a list of probables ready alreadyWill AIMIM emerge as the dark horseThe AllIndia MajliseIttehadul Muslimeen AIMIM is expected to make inroads in Muslimdominated wards as never beforeAssembly polls saw the AIMIM winning Byculla giving a clear indication that it can eat into other partiesrsquo Muslim votebank Representational picPolarisation of Muslim votes happened in the assembly polls in which the AIMIM won Byculla and gave the Sena a run for its money in BandraThe AIMIM has the potential of emerging as a better alternative to the Samajwadi Party in the BMC and will surely eat into Congressrsquos Muslim votebank