People will teach lesson to BJP for surrendering, supporting ‘extortionist’ Shiv Sena: NCP

A day after Shiv Sena candidate was elected new BMC mayor, the National Congress Party (NCP) dubbed Uddhav Thackeray-led party as extortionist and claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has surrendered to save its government in Maharashtra.

“The BJP was claiming mafia raj in Mumbai and the Shiv Sena is extortionist. The people have voted against mafia raj. The BJP has surrendered to the Shiv Sena to save their government,” NCP leader Nawab Malik told ANI.

“I think the people will teach lesson to the BJP,” he added.

However, Malik also congratulated the newly-elected mayor, Vishwanath Mahadeshwar. Earlier, Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi too echoed similar sentiment and said the BJP supported Shiv Sena in BMC for the sake of power.

In his first address to the corporators yesterday, Mahadeshwar raised concern over outstanding dues with the state government stating it is obstructing BMC financially in completing the projects.

“My priority will be conducting coordination committee meeting between the state government and BMC, which hasn’t happened since 1999, for better coordination on civic issues,” he said.

The elections to the 227-member BMC, conducted on February 21 and the results declared two days later, threw up a hung verdict, with Sena winning 84 seats and the BJP 82.

While both parties managed to include more corporators into their fold since then, they fell short of the magical figure of 114 seats, which is required to win a clear majority and elect a Mayor.

Ahead of the elections, the BJP and Shiv Sena split in BMC, which they had been ruling together for the last over two decades.

However, things took an unexpected turn last week when Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced his decision to support Sena in the BMC, while refusing to take up any post like Deputy Mayor, Opposition Leader, Committee Chairman etc.