Sena’s surprise: Low-key pick for standing committee chief
Party chief Uddhav Thackeray first picked littleknown Vishwanath Mahadeshwar for mayor; party sources said BJP’S transparency agenda is keeping Sena on its toes
the scanner of the BJP,” the leader pointed out. Korgaonkar has been a member of the standing committee in the past five years, the leader said.
In the run up to the 2019 state Assembly polls, the BJP has stepped up its role, choosing to support the Sena but also playing the role of the opposition by harping on its transparency agenda.
Party sources said Thackeray has chosen these councillors especially because he knows the functioning of the civic body will be under the scanner.
But the move is likely to create a rift among the Sena’s corporators, as several seniors are believed to be unhappy with the choices. The Sena does not have a clear majority and the BJP is breathing down its neck, which led political circles to expect the Sena leadership would pick experienced and aggressive corporators who won’t be cowed down by the BJP or Opposition.
The Sena is even spoilt for choice, as among its newly elected corporators are heavyweights such as Mangesh Satamkar and Ashish Chemburkar (both Vibhagh Pramukhs, a powerful post in the party hierarchy), as well as former mayors Milind Vaidya and Vishakha Raut.
But Thackeray chose Mahadeshwar, considered a soft and is a low-profile councillor, for mayor.
For standing committee, Satamkar was considered as the most likely nominee, but Thackeray picked Korgaonkar, a fourterm corporator from Bhandup.
The disappointment was evident when Korgaonkar was asked to file his nomination. A visibly upset Satamkar was seen leaving the BMC head office. Whether the unhappy old guard will create trouble for the Sena or perform the role of floor managers will be seen in the coming days.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Korgaonkar and senior corporator Shubhda Gudekar filed their nominations for chairmanship of the standing committee and the education committee. The BJP is not contesting any statutory committee polls, and the Congress will not be in a position to win, which means the Sena nominees are set to win the elections unopposed.