After AIADMK’s resort drama in Chennai last month, it is now the turn of the Shiv Sena in Mumbai to herd its corporators to undisclosed location fearing poaching. The Shiv Sena and the BJP are battling it out for numbers for the mayor’s post after a fractured mandate in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.
During the political tussle between VK Sasikala and O Panneerselvam camps in the ruling AIADK in Tamil Nadu, the former had bussed all her legislators to a resort in Chennai until a trust vote was conducted in the assembly. The whole episode had created a sensation as numbers kept changing on both sides and even Panneerselvam camp accused the MLAs were taken hostage by Sasikala.
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The Indian Express reported that the Shiv Sena leadership has started preparations to herd all its corporators to an undisclosed location. Their decision has come a day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apprise him of the political situation in the state.
The magic number to achieve a simple majority in BMC is 114. As of now, the Sena has 84 corporators and the support from five independent legislators while the BJP has 82 corporators plus one independent supporter.
Even though the BJP and the Shiv Sena are allies in the state government, a bitter battle had emerged between both the parties ahead of the BMC polls and both appear to be unwilling to join hands again. The parties are also reportedly attempting to woo corporators from other parties such as Congress, NCP, MNS, SP and MIM. Sena fears that BJP may use its power in the state and the centre to poach Sena’s corporators.
