BJP makes huge gains in Sena’s bastion and emerges as second largest party in BMC polls.
Neither Shiv Sena nor BJP could get a clear mandate in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election as the civic body is headed towards a hung assembly. Sena was initially leading by a huge margin as speculations were rife in the political circles that the mayor’s post will be bagged by the party. However after afternoon session of counting, Sena could not maintain the momentum as it ended up winning 84 seats while BJP recorded its best ever performance by winning 82 seats. Thus the BMC poll results can be seen as a setback for Sena which had severed ties with BJP and contested election singlehandedly. The party also had threatened to withdraw support to the Fadnavis government in the state. Congress and NCP won 31 and 9 seats respectively. The Raj Thackeray led MNS won 7 seats while 14 seats were bagged by others. Both Sena and BJP have been contesting BMC polls together since last 20 years but this time they have parted ways. The annual budget of the civic body is Rs 37,000 crores which is much higher than some state’s budget.
Priyabhanshu Ranjan a journalist said, “This is a larger game plan to capture treasury and opposition spaces simultaneously. This understanding is at the top level. Party workers are being misled by their leaders. Haven’t you heard of #CongressMuktBharat mission?”
Satyanarayan Kabra a reader said, “There is a possibility of Sena and BJP coming together. Mayor’s post might go to Sena as CM’s post belongs to BJP. This combination means Assembly too functions smoothly. Voters who displayed loyalty might be confused as politicians can be strange bedfellows.”
Amandeep Singh a radio jockey said, “Unprecedented win for BJP and huge loss for Congress. It is unclear at the moment whether the BJP and the Sena will once again go for an alliance in the BMC or resort to stitching alliances with smaller parties like the Congress, NCP and the MNS. If Sena and BJP comes together they would betray the common man who believed that both parties have severed ties.”
Meanwhile MRCC President Sanjay Nirupam has accepted responsibility for the poor performance of Congress party in BMC polls and said that he was willing to resign from his post.
Pankaja Munde resigned as the Women and Child welfare Development Minister for Maharashtra after BJP lost civic body polls in Beed. She said, “I take responsibility for my defeat in local body polls in Beed, have sent my resignation,” said Munde.
Ramesh Solanki a core committee member of Shiv Sena’s IT team said, “It’s a victory for Uddhav saheb and Aditya Thackeray’s leadership. Shiv Sena had contested the civic body polls alone and continues to remain the number one party in Mumbai. Residents of the city showed their trust in Shiv Sena and appreciated the work done by the party.”
Mukesh Tyagi a journalist said, “Lack of a credible opposition in Maharashtra is allowing a free run for the saffron alliance so much that both Sena and BJP could increase their seats. Thoroughly corrupt Congress and NCP have been decimated by the voters. This creates a fertile ground for a new party like AAP to emerge which was witnessed in Punjab.”
Vikas Kumar, state manager, enterprise sales of Jio said, “When a ruling alliance breaks, opposition benefits. However the scenario is different this time”.
Jyotish Nair, Joint Convenor, BJP State IT. Cell Convenor said, “Nationalism via Modi has taken over the Marathi Manoos idea of the Thackerays. After the advent of Modi, the politics nurtured on regional emotions is getting diminished. Maharashtra assembly elections was a great beginning to this phenomenon.”
Kamya Chaturvedi a Content Writer said, “Splendid performance by BJP in Maharashtra civic polls including BMC, post demonetisation is having a positive impact for transparency. CM Fadnavis has emerged as a strong leader.”
Utkarsh Tambe said, “This election should be an eyeopener for all the parties. A thorough introspection is necessary for both winners and losers. Congress suffered due to internal rift prevailing within the party and adamant Sanjay Nirupam. Uddhav took a firm stand like “Der aaye durust aaye” and their ad campaigns were ineffective. However BJP should avoid complacency.”
Vinod Luthra said, “India is a funny democratic country. In Nashik the total ballot boxes in ward no 30 were 50 but it increased to 57 during counting. Unpopular candidates in various wards have got mandate.”
