MNS retains standing committee chairman's post

NASHIK: The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) retained the chairmanship of the civic body' standing committee for the second successive year, with a slender win over the rival candidate from their ally Bharatiya Janata Party. The win has put further strain on the edgy ties between the two-ruling alliance partners as BJP leaders are already crying foul.
MNS candidate Rahul Dhikle defeated Ranjana Bhansi from BJP by one vote in the election held on Monday, after they got the support of the sole independent member in the panel. Dhikle received six votes, while Ranjana Bhansi received five votes in the 16-member panel.
Presently, the panel has five MNS members, the NCP has three, the Congress, Shiv Sena and BJP have two members each and Republican Party of India (RPI) and Shahar Vikas Agahdi have one member each.
The three members of the Shiv Sena-RPI supported the BJP in the election, but failed to defeat the MNS. The five members of the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress abstained from the election.
"The victory was due to blessings of our leader Rajsaheb Thackeray and co-operation from all members. Independent member Pawan Pawar supported me in the election. I will concentrate on doing good works for the development of the city," a jubilant Dhikle said.
The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) is the first civic body under the control of the MNS. The party holds the mayor's post and its ally BJP has been given the deputy mayor's post since 2012. Last year, Shiv Sena-RPI had supported MNS candidate in the standing committee election.