Congress won’t support Sena, to field its own mayoral candidate
Party wants to send out a clear message of ideological differences with Sena
MUMBAI: The Congress will not support the Shiv Sena and instead field its own candidate in mayoral poll in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The party is also likely to stake claim on the post of leader of opposition in the civic body.
Following a series of meetings with the party’s high command in New Delhi over the last few days, Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam said there was no question of supporting the ‘communal’ Shiv Sena in the city. He said that the party wants to send out a clear message that the party has ideological differences with the Shiv Sena. The party has also shortlisted couple of names of senior corporators to field a candidate in mayoral election to be held on March 8.
“We will field our mayoral candidate in the election. The question is not about winability of the candidate, but its about clarifying our the stand,” Nirupam told HT.
The party’s central leadership has also directed its Mumbai unit to not go for any direct or indirect support to the saffron party. “It is true that the first meeting of the senior Congress leaders after the results were announced, few leaders were optimistic about supporting Shiv Sena to keep the BJP at the bay. But there was no support the idea got from within the party.
The Mumbai unit has now come to the decision of fielding own candidate,” said a senior party office bearer.
A section of the party leadership is also of the opinion that by claiming the post of the opposition leader, it may bag membership of the standing committee. “By supporting or abstaining from the voting, the party cannot bargain with Sena for any committee, but if the party bags the post of leader of opposition, it will automatically get the standing committee as the opposition leader is its ex-officio member.