The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suffered a setback ahead of the Bhiwandi-Nizampur mayoral elections. Nine of its 22 corporators broke away to form a separate group, the Bhiwandi Secular Front (BSF), and extended their support to the Congress-led alliance. This move paves the way for the Congress to elect its own mayor.

Congress-NCP-SP alliance gains strength

With the support of the BSF, the Congress-NCP-Samajwadi Party (SP) alliance has crossed the halfway mark in the 90-member body. A Congress functionary said on Wednesday, “The nine corporators have decided to support us.”