Sena teams up with Cong-NCP to isolate ally BJP in MBMC

The BJP and Shiv Sena both ruling parties in the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) - have been at loggerheads in the recent past. However, the strain between the allies escalated on the issue of recruiting medical staff for the MBMC-run hospitals in the city.

Questioning the veracity of the selections made by a relatively non-medical expert panel and the handover status of Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi civic hospital to the state, the BJP sought a review of the process before going ahead with the recruitments in Friday’s general body meet. However, the BJP was left isolated when its junior ally Shiv Sena rejected the move and teamed up with the NCP-led opposition to pass a resolution to give a final nod to the recruitments.

“We did not oppose the recruitment but only sought a clarification, so as to avoid future confusion and ensure better transparency that would keep the standard of health care facilities up to the mark,” claimed BJP corporator and legislator Narendra Mehta.

A panel had finalised 11 medicos including nine super specialist doctors with expertise in fields including pediatric, gynecology, psychiatrist, maternity, skin, eye, and ENT through walkin selections for its hospitals which are reeling under an acute manpower crunch.

“We thank civic chief Dr Gite and his team for their genuine efforts to fill the vacancies. Without doctors, poor patients suffered the most, now they will get much relief,” said NCP corporator Dhruvkishore Patil.

The new recruits will be soon be handed over appointment letters, officials said.