MUMBAI: Though there is little clarity on ward boundaries and alliances, the NCP has hit the ground running for the
BMC election. The NCP has begun its outreach campaign by screening the popular film ‘
Jai Bhim
’ and organising sports tournaments in the city.
The NCP recently screened Jai Bhim for residents in Ghatkopar. The screening was led by housing minister Jitendra Awhad. The film drew crowds and will be taken around, said leaders. The Tamil film, dubbed in Hindi and other tongues, was one of the most popular in 2021.
“The screenings got a very good response. The film tells the story of repression against Dalits and tribals, who are at the bottom of the caste pyramid. The film had a good social message and so we decided to screen it. We have taken all the required permissions and will screen the film in other localities in the area too,” said NCP functionary Nitin Deshmukh.
NCP corporator Rakhi Jadhav last week held an arts and sports festival.It was attended by MLA Rohit Pawar. “Visited ‘Ghatkopar Arts, Sports and Cultural Festival’ organized by Rakhi Jadhav. I also enjoyed playing badminton and had discussions with residents who attended the festival,” Pawar tweeted.
The NCP’s Amol Matele organised a cricket tournament for NCP supreme Sharad Pawar’s birthday.
Despite the success of the MVA in rural local body polls, the Shiv Sena is set to go it alone in the BMC polls. The party, which has ruled the BMC for over two decades, is preparing to fight over 200 seats and expand its base in Mumbai.
Analysts said the Shiv Sena might tie-up with the NCP after all as the party might ask for a fewer seats compared to the Congress. The NCP has just eight corporators.
“The NCP has little presence in Mumbai. They can take 30 seats and still improve their strike rate. This will be a win-win for both the Sena and NCP. There is no way the Congress will agree to an alliance with Sena for less than 80-100 seats,” an analyst said.