Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut on Monday raised questions over the decision to move newly elected corporators of the ruling Shiv Sena faction to hotels, asserting that the verdict in the recent civic elections does not allow any party to comfortably claim the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation mayor’s post.
In the latest BMC polls, the BJP and the Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena together secured a majority in the 227 member civic body, with the BJP winning 89 seats and the Shiv Sena 29. The Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena UBT emerged as the second largest party with 65 seats, while its ally the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena won six seats.
The Shiv Sena has moved its 29 corporators to a hotel in Mumbai, officially describing the move as part of an orientation programme to familiarise them with the functioning of the country’s richest civic body. The decision came soon after the poll results, as the Shiv Sena’s seats became crucial for the BJP to work out its strategy to install a Mahayuti mayor.
Raut said it was ironic that corporators were being shifted despite the alliance being in power. He remarked that Shiv Sena corporators had already been moved to a five star hotel and that, according to him, the BJP was also planning a similar step. He said it was unclear who was afraid of whom, adding that the chief minister was watching these developments while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comment that the BJP had defeated the Congress in the city where the party was born, Raut said the remark ignored political history. He pointed out that the undivided Shiv Sena had controlled the BMC for nearly 25 years, while the Congress had remained largely marginal in Mumbai’s civic politics. He also recalled that the Congress was founded in Mumbai and that the Quit India movement was launched from the city, at a time when the BJP did not exist.
When asked whether Shiv Sena UBT had decided to sit in the Opposition in the BMC, Raut said no such decision had been taken and that the party was closely watching political developments unfold. He added sarcastically that they were enjoying the situation.
Taking a swipe at Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raut said the grand welcome accorded to him in Switzerland after the civic poll results made it appear as though he was on the path to becoming prime minister. He added, however, that he would feel proud if a Marathi leader were to hold the top post one day.
Raut dismissed reports of any talks between Fadnavis and Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray. He also alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was attempting to engineer a split among BJP corporators in the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation and could attempt a similar move in Mumbai, recalling that Shinde had earlier split the Shiv Sena with the support of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
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