BMC Elections 2022: BJP gears up to take on Shiv Sena under Mission 2022

Party organises morchas in 23 wards

Undeterred by recent arrest of Union Minister Narayan Rane and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s criticism over Janashirwad Yatra, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has geared up its preparations under the Mission 2022 for the ensuing BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) slated next year.

Apart from focusing on strengthening the party organisation up to booth level under the Samarth Booth Abhiyan, the party has decided to corner estranged ally Shiv Sena on citizens centric issues apart from corruption in the party controlled civic body. As a part of party’s poll strategy, BJP on Thursday organised morchas in 23 wards across the city seeking the BMC’s report card.

BJP MLA Ameet Satam said he led a morcha to KWest ward office to protest against what he alleged was years of corruption and misrule in the civic body. He specifically highlighted corruption in the buildings and factories department of the ward. Satam also claimed that a lock was put on the ward office as part of the protest. “Highlighted the latest high-handed action by the buildings department of the ward office in the residential Asha colony and slum of Janta colony. Was later arrested by DN Nagar police,” he claimed. The police, however, said Satam was only detained and later allowed to leave.

BJP legislator and former minister Ashish Shelar, who led the campaign in H West ward, told Free Press Journal, “The party demanded waiver on property tax for homes up to 500 sq ft area as promised by Shiv Sena. BMC should give 50 per cent cut in water tax, fire control cess and internal road tax and provide financial assistance to those affected by heavy rains and Tauktae cyclone.”