BJP’S role in BMC with eye on 2019

days before the mayoral election, in which BJP voted for Shiv Sena’s candidate, the party held an overnight training session for its new corporators.

The training, at the Rss-linked Rambhau Prabhodini Mhalgi training and research institute at Bhayandar, gave the newly inducted councillors lessons on being more vigilant during the functioning of the Mumbai civic body, to ensure transparency.

The BJP conducting a session for new representatives is not new, but this time, its theme and timing was crucial. The workshop indicates exactly how BJP will corner the Sena in the two years leading up to the 2019 Assembly polls. The councillors’ role was made clear: act as the opposition while supporting the ruling party. Among those who gave lessons were CM Devendra Fadnavis, city BJP chief Ashish Shelar and accounting and auditing officials from BMC. They were taught how to read budget documents and committee proposals and given tips on spotting flawed tender documents. “There is a reason why we stayed away from all positions of power in the BMC, not just mayor’s post. With our strength of corporators almost at a par with the Sena’s in all important committees, especially the standing committee, we will play a crucial role. In any case of mischief, we will oppose tenders,’’ said a senior party leader and legislator. “This will also force Congress to oppose proposals or explain how it is willing to compromise with the Sena.’’

The BJP, which has been a junior partner in the ruling alliance for 15 years, has an insider’s view and is best poised to take on the system and Sena on its own turf

The party’s strategy is to expose Sena’s mismanagement by blaming it for poor work, pick ing on projects that reek of favou ritism and building an atmos phere against Sena before 2019.

The party started building the pressure on its ally in the state assembly a day earlier, calling for an SIT probe in the road scam “The CM stressed on why BJP had decided to focus on transpar ency, pointing out that after the 2014 polls, it was clear the credi bility of politicians was at an all time low. SENA-BJP alliance worked on Hindutva plank, but it is not as relevant as development and anti-corruption,” said a BJP minister. The BJP’S support to Sena in the mayoral polls is then just the calm before the storm.