Mumbai: The ruling Mahayuti has reached consensus on 207 of 227 seats for the Mumbai civic polls, with BJP contesting 128 and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena 79, BJP’s city chief Amit Satam said.
The BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena will contest the polls in the metropolis, scheduled for January 15, jointly. The Mahayuti also comprises the Nationalist Congress Party of Ajit Pawar.
“Unanimity has been reached on 207 seats in the BMC, of which the BJP will contest 128 and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena 79. Talks are underway on the remaining 20 seats. Decisions on these seats will be taken after considering the candidates in the fray,” Satam told reporters on Saturday.
After the meeting at Rangsharda, leaders from the BJP and Shiv Sena proceeded to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s residence for further discussions. Talks with Shinde are underway to resolve the remaining 20 seats. BJP minister Ashish Shelar and Shiv Sena leaders Uday Samant and Rahul Shewale were present for the meeting.
Attacking the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Satam said the Mahayuti is fully prepared to defeat forces attempting to “change the colour of Mumbai.” He added that all alliance partners would be given respectable seat shares and that the focus was not on numbers but on collective victory. Satam also said joint rallies of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers would be held, with the campaign likely to begin from the 1st or 2nd day of next month.
Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) general secretary and MP Rahul Shewale said the alliance is focused on winning the BMC elections rather than individual party tallies. He stated that the Mahayuti has set a target of winning 150 seats in Mumbai and that candidate winnability would be the sole criterion. “If required, candidates will be exchanged between parties to ensure victory,” Shewale said, adding that both parties would receive a fair and respectable share of seats.
