Sena, BJP keep suspense on; mayoral polls process begins

MUMBAI: Even as nominations to the Mumbai mayor’s post are just a day away, the saffron allies-turned-rivals did not make any move to initiate dialogue for a possible alliance in the civic body.

The silence between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena, who got a split mandate in the recently concluded civic polls, could signal a close contest for the top job in the BMC. The party, which gets its mayor elected, will effectively have an upper hand and control the civic body.

The mayoral elections are

slated on March 8.

The BJP camp, which has been in wait-and-watch mode , began making moves to bolster its seat tally.

The party is expected to go to the Konkan divisional commissioner’s office with its 82 corporators on Friday to register them as a group, to avoid any last-minute defections.

It will also hold a meeting of its steering committee on Friday afternoon to decide the party’s strategy in the BMC.

The Sena, in the meanwhile, continued its attack on the BJP through its mouthpiece, Saamna, taunting it on the ongoing ‘nationalism’ debate and indicating it was unlikely to blink first and seek a tie up.

The editorial taunted the BJP for defining patriotism according to its convenience, pointing out that the party had remained silent when it’s legislator called army wives unfaithful.