BMC Alliances Rattle Parties

Mumbai: Alliances forged ahead of the BMC elections are triggering the risk of widespread rebellion across parties. The ward number 192 in Dadar area has emerged as a bone of contention between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) causing unease in both parties. While the MNS has issued the party’s candidature form to Yashwant Killedar from Ward No. 192, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Prakash Patankar is likely to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

There is a resentment in the MNS too with party general secretary Snehal Jadhav resigning from the organisation, citing differences over Killedar’s candidature from ward no 192.

In her resignation letter addressed to MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Jadhav wrote, “I am resigning from the post of General Secretary and from party membership due to not being taken into confidence regarding the candidacy for ward No. 192, and also because I was excluded from this process, even though my husband and I served as corporators from this ward for four consecutive terms between 1997 and 2017.”

Snehal Jadhav served as a corporator for three consecutive terms from 1992 to 1997, 1997 to 2002, and 2002 to 2007. Later, her husband was elected as a corporator from 2007 to 2012.

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

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

In Ghatkopar, senior NCP (SP) leader and former corporator Rakhi Jadhav quit the party and joined the BJP. She was reportedly miffed over the less number of seats the party was getting in its seat sharing with the Shiv Sena (UBT). For the BMC elections, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP has formed an alliance with the Thackeray brothers. However, the party is likely to get only 5 to 10 seats.