UBT may field candidate for Mayor post, urges MVA to vote together

Mumbai: The elections for Mumbai Mayor won't be unopposed as the Shiv Sena (UBT) is likely to field a candidate for the Mayor's election on Feb 11 and urge the Congress to vote for its candidate as a united Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). A senior Sena (UBT) functionary said the party is likely to field a candidate for the Mayor's post and try to cobble up over 100 votes for the opposition against the BJP-led Mahayuti. There are 108 opposition corporators in the 227 member BMC house. The Sena (UBT) is the second largest party in BMC after BJP with 65 Corporators. The Congress has 24 corporators. A meeting of senior Sena (UBT) functionaries was held at Matoshree, the Thackeray family residence, on Thursday where the probable candidate's name was discussed. Sena (UBT) has issued a whip to all its BMC corporators to remain in the city till the Feb 11 Mayor's election. "Sena (UBT) will not back the BJP in any way. The party may field a Mayor's candidate and ask all like-minded parties to vote against the BJP. So far, we are only seeing what is playing out between Eknath Shinde Sena and BJP. The opposition has over 100 corporators. The Mahayuti's majority is thin. So we will show the strength of the opposition. We are in touch with the Congress and have asked them to vote for our candidate as a united MVA," said a Sena (UBT) functionary.
Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the day the BJP Mayor is anointed in the BMC, it will be a ‘black day' for Mumbai. "A BJP Mayor in Mumbai with the help of Shinde's Sena will be unfortunate. This will be a sad day, black day for the Marathi Manoos and Maharashtra... It will be a black day for the martyrs and the Marathi people. BJP has done the work of finishing the existence and identity of Mumbai. In the future, Mumbai will be given to the industrialists. BJP's role is always working towards breaking away Mumbai," Raut said.Meanwhile, Shinde Sena functionaries said that a power sharing formula between BJP and Sena has been finalised. As per the formula, BJP will keep the Mayor's post and Standing Committee Chairperson's post, while Sena will get Chairperson of the Improvements, Health and BEST committee and the Deputy Mayor's post.