BMC Alliances Rattle Parties

Mumbai: Alliances formed ahead of BMC elections trigger the risk of widespread rebellions between parties. Ward number 192 in Dadar district has emerged as a bone of contention between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), causing unrest on both sides. While MNS has released the party’s nomination form to Yashwant Killedar from Ward No. 192, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Prakash Patankar is likely to join Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

There is also resentment in MNS over party general secretary Snehal Jadhav resigning from the organisation, citing differences of opinion over Killedar’s candidature from ward number 192.

In his resignation letter to MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Jadhav wrote: “I am resigning from the post of General Secretary and party membership due to lack of confidence in my candidacy for ward No. 192 and also because I was left out of this process despite my wife and I serving as a corporator in this ward for four consecutive terms between 1997 and 2017.”

Snehal Jadhav served as corporator for three consecutive terms from 1992 to 1997, 1997 to 2002 and 2002 to 2007. Later, his wife was named corporate corporator from 2007 to 2012.

Meanwhile, sources said Patankar will join Shinde Sena after failing to get ticket from Shiv Sena (UBT) in ward number 192. Patankar is likely to be nominated from Shinde Sena. His wife Preeti Patankar had contested and won in this ward in the 2017 Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections.

Similarly, BJP workers staged protests against their party after seats in Dahisar and Dharavi were allotted to Shiv Sena. Former BJP corporator Asavari Patil from ward number 13 in Borivali East has joined Shiv Sena (UBT) in Matoshree. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray invited him to the party.

In Ghatkopar, senior NCP (SP) leader and former corporator Rakhi Jadhav left the party and joined the BJP. It was reported that the party was disturbed by the low number of seats it received in seat sharing with Shiv Sena (UBT). For the BMC elections, Sharad Pawar-led NCP has formed an alliance with the Thackeray brothers. However, the party is expected to win only 5 to 10 seats.