Maha polls: Shiv Sena-MNS next likely alliance?

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena might not have to worry even if the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) withdraws support in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), as the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has hinted that it would extend its support to the party.

After the BJP parted ways from the Sena before the Assembly polls, their alliance in the BMC is also tottering. “The BJP leadership is waiting for the Assembly poll results to decide on the alliance in the BMC,” a senior BJP leader said.

Anticipating the possible break-up, the Sena is said to have wooed the MNS. A proposal by Sena to continue with the Abhay Yojana for water bill defaulters was opposed by the BJP corporators, while the MNS came out in support of the Sena. The latter questioned BJP’s logic behind opposing the proposal.

Sources in the corporation said that this was the beginning of the Sena and BJP’s separation in the BMC, which has been ruled by the alliance for 17 years. With both parties having ended their state-level alliance, they are also expected to follow suit in the BMC once the Assembly poll results are out on October 19, with the opinion polls predicting that BJP will come to power.

The BJP has 31 corporators, while the MNS has 28 and can support Sena in sustaining its rule in the BMC. Though there are no official talks between the Shiv Sena and MNS, sources in the Sena said that “secret talks” were already held on the issue, but everything depends on the results of the Assembly polls.

It is a prestige issue for both the Sena and the BJP to keep a hold on the richest municipal corporation in the country. With an absolute majority in the Assembly, the BJP will withdraw its support and try to conduct re-elections at the municipal level. However, cautious Sena leaders have already started wooing the MNS and will not give any chance to the BJP to conduct re-election, Sena sources said.