BJP clarifies why it took a u-turn and decided to support Shiv Sena in Mayoral poll
Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray
The BJP on Sunday said the decision of withdrawing from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor race is in the interest of Mumbai people, adding that it would support Shiv Sena while keeping the ‘transparency’ as the utmost priority.
“This magnanimous gesture of our Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is in the interest of Mumbaikar. We will stand united to support the Sena in places where Mumbaikar benefits but we will also play checks and balances when it comes to transparency,” BJP leader Shaina NC told ANI.
Shaina further said the BJP is not desperate to be in power but is desperately seeking to work for the Mumbai people who have voted it to the power.
Commenting on Sena leader Diwakar Raote’s comment that ‘remote control will always be with the Shiv Sena’, Shaina said, “We respect the mandate of the people of Mumbai and despite the fact that we have only two seats, we are not resorting to any horse trade. Raote can say what he wants, the Shiv Sena can do what it wants, we only hope that it will all be in the interest of Mumbaikar.”
On Saturday, Raote had categorically stated that the ‘remote control’ will always be with the Shiv Sena.
“The power which I call ‘Remote Control’ is and will always be with the Shiv Sena. When good work is continuing in the state with the help of the government then I have nothing to comment on. The act which BJP has taken is the most sensible one and I thank them for it from the bottom of my heart,” Raote told ANI.
Raote’s comment came after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the BJP is not going to contest for BMC’s mayor post.
The announcement paved way for rival Shiv Sena, which has a slight numerical advantage over the ruling party.
“We will not put up a candidate for mayor or deputy mayor for BMC. We will not be in the opposition, we will support the ruling party but will not compromise on transparency,” ANI quoted Fadnavis as saying.
BJP’s decision to back Sena, however, has not gone down well with rival Congress, who has alleged that the parties were simply trying to fool people with their separation act.
Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan said there was a tactical understanding between parties and so after all mud-slinging, the latter took a u-turn and extended its support to the former.
“It was just a ploy to see that the votes are adjusted in such a way that people are fooled. People who voted for the BJP feel they have been let down. We have been telling right from the beginning that both these parties are hand in glove with each other and we have been proved right today,” Chavan told ANI.
“People were under the impression that under the name of transparency, the BJP will not support the Shiv Sena. But, after all the mud-slinging on the Shiv Sena, the BJP ultimately took a u-turn and suddenly decided to support the Shiv Sena,” he added.
The election for BMC’s Mayor post will be held on March 8.
